(Except Clauses 4, 19, 23, 26 to 29, 87 to 92, 131 and 134 and Schedules 1, 5 and 38)
Finance Bill
10:30 am
Ms Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury; Bristol South, Labour)
I note that the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) has escaped the pleasure of being a member of the Committee and I put on record
our congratulations on his new appointment as rural affairs spokesperson for the Opposition. It is his loss that he will not experience the thrilling detail of debate in this Committee.
This my sixth Finance Bill as a Minister. They run into one another and I think that I have taken part in eight—two as an Opposition Treasury spokesperson. The hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) has participated in three and the way in which he has conducted business in the past—usually in good humour, but not always—bodes well for the Committee and our debate on the details of the Bill. I welcome the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey), who has been on every Finance Bill since 1997; he is an expert on many of the issues and is gathering further expertise quickly.
I welcome the many talented, able and excellent Labour Members, who I know will support the Government and ensure that we are properly scrutinised. I also welcome Opposition Members who have already proven themselves in debates on the Floor of the House. I am indebted to my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary and my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary for making progress for the Government as the ministerial team leading the Finance Bill.
It is a good idea to get off to the right start, so may I welcome the Whips? My hon. Friends the Members for Basildon (Angela Smith) and for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe) will keep us in order. I welcome the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Luff), who is the Opposition Whip; he enjoys Finance Bills so much that he cannot remember whether he has been on three or four because each of them has been such an ecstatic experience. I welcome the police officers, the Hansard writers and the Clerks, who will ensure that we keep to the business.
Let me quickly address a few details in the motion. The Committee will proceed from clause 1 through the Bill in an orderly fashion. The motion suggests that there should be some movement of clauses to facilitate debate—I hope that Opposition Members agree to that. Clause 36 follows clause 33 because it is a consequential clause on minor benefits and employer-subsidised bus services. Clause 39 will follow clause 37—