Hunting Bill
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
First, I must advise colleagues that there is an error in the marshalling of the amendments on the printed amendment paper. We will begin on page 427 with amendment No. 212 and continue to amendment No. 342 on page 430. Having arrived there—no doubt exhausted—we will then go back to the first page and deal with amendments Nos. 347, 295 and 351. Once we have done that, I shall put the Question on the schedule. Is that reasonably clear? [Interruption.] I shall repeat it.
We will begin on page 427 with amendment No. 212 and then go to amendment No. 342 on page 430.
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
Amendment No. 342 has apparently not been selected.
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman need not worry about that. My Dad told me ''Never worry. Get concerned.'' I think I am getting concerned. I am told that that is not a problem. We need to look at the amendment paper, not the selection list.
Mr Alun Michael (Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour/Co-operative)
On which page is it, Mr. Stevenson?
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
We begin on page 427 with amendment No. 212. Then we shall make our way through the amendments to amendment No. 342 on page 430. Once we have reached that juncture, we shall go back to the first page and deal with amendments Nos. 347, 295 and 351. I knew I should not have done this.
Mr Adrian Flook (Taunton, Conservative)
On a point of order, Mr. Stevenson. Just to clarify, will we take amendments Nos. 347, 295 and 351 together or individually?
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
We shall do it according to the Chairman's selection list.
Mr Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire, Conservative)
There is confusion in my mind. You are talking in the same breath, Mr. Stevenson, about amendments that have already been debated and amendments that are due to be debated today. That is confusing.
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
Some amendments will have to be called formally.
I apologise to the Committee. I am assured—you can take my assurance that I am assured—and I hope that I can offer further assurance that I understand why I am assured and that everything is in order, subject to the amendments that I have announced.
Mr Alun Michael (Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour/Co-operative)
On a point of order, Mr. Stevenson. I tend to be a little slow at this time of the morning, so I hope that I have understood it correctly. Am I right in
thinking that the amendments and their order are correct on the selection list?
Mr Alun Michael (Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour/Co-operative)
And we will find them in a slightly different order if we look at the list of marshalled amendments. If that is the case, I think that I understand the position.
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
That is the case. If I have over-complicated what I am advised is a simple matter, I apologise.
Hon. Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex, Conservative)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Stevenson. It would be helpful to the Committee if a new sheet were printed for this afternoon's sitting, so that we know where we are.
Mr George Stevenson (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
That may be helpful, but I am an eternal optimist. By this afternoon, I hope that we shall have jumped this particular hedge—[Hon. Members: ''Oh!''] If that is not too controversial. May I now, with the permission of the Committee, begin the proceedings? If hon. Members find other areas of confusion as we proceed, please do not hesitate to raise them.Schedule 1 Exempt Hunting