Mr John Healey (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Education and Skills; Wentworth, Labour)

On a point of order, Mr. Benton. On Thursday, the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) requested certain factual information that I have been able to provide to him and other members of the Committee in the form of a short letter.

Mr Joe Benton (Bootle, Labour)

Thank you.

Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge, Conservative)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Benton. I am grateful to the Minister for making that information available in such short order that it can be brought to bear on today's debate.

May I draw your attention to the fact, Mr. Benton, and ask you to draw it to the attention of the relevant authorities, that, in spite of previous commitments, the new clauses have been printed without line numbers? In the case of a new clause, such as new clause 2, that runs to several pages, that makes it difficult for hon. Members who want to table amendments to identify the line in which such amendments should be inserted, and it makes matters more difficult for the Clerks who have to marshal the amendments. I have raised this issue on several occasions in Standing Committee, and I have been assured that it is has been agreed with the printer that line numbers will be printed the first time new clauses appear. As that would seem to be for everyone's convenience and would inconvenience nobody, I ask once again whether you might raise the matter through the channels of the Chairmen's Panel and see whether anything can be done.

Mr Joe Benton (Bootle, Labour)

That point of order is noted, and I shall pass it on.

Ordered,

That the Programming Order of the Committee of 6th December 2001 be amended—

by the substitution in paragraph (5) (time for conclusion of remaining proceedings) of the words '11.25 a.m. on Thursday 24th January' for the words '7 p.m. on Tuesday 22nd of January'. —[Alan Johnson.]