Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]
2:30 pm
Ms Jane Kennedy (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office; Liverpool, Wavertree, Labour)
I beg to move,
That the order of the Standing Committee of 25 February 2003 be amended as follows—
(1) in paragraph (2) for ''Six sittings'' substitute ''Eight sittings'';
(2) in the Table, for the entry for the 6th sitting substitute:
6th
Clause 19, New Clauses relating to Part 1, New Schedules relating to Part 1, Clause 23, Schedule 1, Clause 4, Clauses 24 and 25, Schedule 2, Clauses 26 to 36, New Clauses relating to Part 2, New Schedules relating to Part 2, Clauses 37 and 38, Schedule 3, Clauses 39 and 40, remaining New Clauses, remaining New Schedules, remaining proceedings on the Bill (so far as not previously concluded)
—
7th
Clause 19, New Clauses relating to Part 1, New Schedules relating to Part 1, Clause 23, Schedule 1, Clause 4, Clauses 24 and 25, Schedule 2, Clauses 26 to 36, New Clauses relating to Part 2, New Schedules relating to Part 2, Clauses 37 and 38, Schedule 3, Clauses 39 and 40, remaining New Clauses, remaining New Schedules, remaining proceedings on the Bill (so far as not previously concluded)
—
8th
Clause 19, New Clauses relating to Part 1, New Schedules relating to Part 1, Clause 23, Schedule 1, Clause 4, Clauses 24 and 25, Schedule 2, Clauses 26 to 36, New Clauses relating to Part 2, New Schedules relating to Part 2, Clauses 37 and 38, Schedule 3, Clauses 39 and 40, remaining New Clauses, remaining New Schedules, remaining proceedings on the Bill (so far as not previously concluded)
5.00 p.m.
In moving the resolution, I am grateful to all members of the Committee and, through the good offices of the usual channels, to the Opposition parties and members of the Social Democrat and Labour party who sit on the Government side of the House of Commons for their co-operation. As a result of representations that the Government received following the developments that are currently taking place in Belfast, we felt that we should accommodate those Committee members who feel strongly about some of the issues that we are debating and who wish to be present. I will report your comments to the Government, Mr. Gale, but because of the circumstances on this occasion, it was felt that we should ask the Committee and the House through the programming motion to move the timing of our further considerations. That is why the motion is before us today. As we are timetabled to sit on Thursday, there will be consideration of a motion to make the move from Thursday to next Tuesday.
It is important that I put on the record that the Government do not intend to use the further time that we have to consider the Bill to bring forward any new items at this stage of our deliberations. We will consider issues arising from our discussions so far on Report: that is when we could consider further new matters, such as Government new clauses. The Government do not intend to use this delay for those ends. It is in good faith that we seek to move this business to next Tuesday, and to allow a full and detailed scrutiny of the clauses in our deliberations next week. I will be happy to respond to questions from Committee members.