Mr Peter Pike (Burnley, Labour)

I now put the Question on schedule 5, as amended, clauses 14 to 20, schedule 6 and clauses 21 and 22.

Question put:—

The Committee divided: Ayes 12, Noes 7.

Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough, Conservative)

On a point of order, Mr. Pike. May I ask your advice on the procedures that you or your co-Chairman, Mr. Conway, will adopt in the future? Some time on 14 February, you will invite us to consent to a motion saying that we have considered the Bill and that it should be reported to the House. If today's activities are anything to go by, we have plainly not considered the Bill; indeed, we have just voted on more than half of part 1 without having

considered a line of it. That is regrettable and brings our procedures into disrepute. I do not suggest that that is your fault, because you are as much a servant of the procedures of the House as the rest of us. None the less, it is unfortunate, to say the least—

Mr Peter Pike (Burnley, Labour)

Order. You have made your point, Mr. Garnier, and I understand it. You should remember that the Committee will be able to divide on the motion at the end of our proceedings. As Chairman, I am not in a position to express a view on whether adequate time has been given to our consideration, just as I could not determine the order of consideration earlier. I hope that whatever has been agreed by the usual channels will enable us to make progress. The Committee agreed the programme motion earlier today and, as Committee Chairman, I have to carry out procedure agreed by the Committee.Clause 23 Attorney-General