Clause 111 - Information concerning directions under section 110
Education Bill
7:15 pm
Mr John Heppell (Government Whip (technically a Lords Commissioner, HM Treasury); Nottingham East, Labour)
The problem tends to repeat itself. We make an offer of more time, it is not taken up, and a day later the Opposition complain that they have not had enough time.
I know that there are concerns about the knives, but I will make the offer again, so that it is on the record and so that everyone can hear what I am saying. Whenever the Opposition agree to do any extra time, we will be happy to move the knives for whatever amount of time they require. That offer has never been
taken up in the past, on any occasion. I can see that the proposal to continue this evening is causing difficulty—although not for me, I might add.
The Government's timetable does not require us to finish at seven o'clock. It states that we start at half-past four on Tuesdays and at half-past two on Thursdays. [Interruption]. I see that you are nodding, Mr Pike. It is normal in Committees for knives to fall when votes will be made. There is nothing wrong with getting ahead of schedule instead of being behind schedule, which seems to be the Opposition's aim. The timetable does not say that we finish any night at seven. I thought that hon. Members understood that. We have already worked two nights after seven o'clock. [Interruption] Yes, I know, I am coming to the rest.
I do not agree with the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough on one point.
If the hon. Gentleman had argued that he did not have time to table amendments before Christmas, I might have agreed with him. However, we are half way through January, and he should have recognised that there was a chance that we might reach this point. It is not the Government's job to second guess the incompetence of Opposition Members who fail to table amendments when they should.
I recognise that there has been a misunderstanding, although I know that the Opposition Whip received my letter, and that he understood my intentions, because we had harsh words last night, when I said that we were going to ensure that there was extra time, regardless of whether he wanted it. I took that view because I was sick of Opposition Members constantly carping that they did not have sufficient time to consider matters, even though whenever I offered them time, they refused it. Having said that, I respect the fact that the letters were placed on the board when it was late, and that the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough did not receive the letter. As he has tabled amendments, it would be unfair of me to insist that we continue tonight.
I am glad that we have had this debate because it has given us a chance to clear the air. I say again that if the Opposition want to change the knives, that is not a problem, as long as they offer time in exchange, or tell us which point the Committee would reach.
Everything that needs to be said about the matter has been said. I support the Adjournment motion of the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough.