Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown, Labour)

I beg to move,

That, if proceedings on the Home Energy Conservation Bill are not concluded at this morning's sitting, the Committee do meet again this day at half-past Four o'clock.

I must crave your indulgence, I fear, Mr. Benton. I ask the Committee, in addition to agreeing to the sittings motion, to agree to adjourn our proceedings until 11.45 am, as the Minister has to be elsewhere to deal with unexpected difficulties.

Mr Joe Benton (Bootle, Labour)

May I point out that the appropriate technical word is ''suspend'', not ''adjourn''?

Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown, Labour)

I beg your pardon, Mr. Benton.

Mr Jonathan Sayeed (Mid Bedfordshire, Conservative)

We accept that a Department that deals with flooding and foot and mouth, as well as fridges, needs its Ministers back in the office now and again. We do not oppose the sittings motion because we want time to discuss the entire Bill. We understand the Minister's difficulties and agree to the sittings motion and to the request for our sitting to be suspended.

Mr Michael Meacher (Minister of State (the Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Oldham West & Royton, Labour)

I assure hon. Members that the request for an adjournment of the Committee until 11.45 am has nothing to do with BSE, foot and mouth or fridges—or, indeed, any other particular issue. However, the need for me to be elsewhere is pressing and I am grateful for the Committee's understanding. I look forward to making progress on the Bill at 11.45 am.

Question put and agreed to.

Sitting suspended.

On resuming—