Communications Bill
11:00 am
Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)
I remind the Committee that there is a money resolution and a ways and means resolution in connection with the Bill, copies of which are available on the Table. In light of the remarks made by the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford (Mr. Whittingdale) who is leading for the Opposition, I remind members of the Committee that adequate notice should be given of amendments. As a general rule, Mr. Atkinson and I do not intend to call starred amendments, including any that may be reached during an afternoon sitting of the Committee.
A further piece of housekeeping advice concerns the conduct of the Committee during our debates. It has been my custom and practice to permit a reasonable debate at the start of our discussions on a clause or group of amendments, or a stand-part debate, but not both. In complex Bills, we have recognised that sometimes it is to the advantage of the Committee and for its convenience to have a fairly lengthy debate at the beginning of a clause. Members of the
Committee can have one stand-part debate, not two, and it is up to them to determine which they require. That being said, clause 1 has no amendments tabled to it and will be subject to a stand-part debate.