Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Ivor Caplin (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Ministry of Defence; Hove, Labour)
I beg to move,
That—
(1) during proceedings on the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Bill the Standing Committee shall, in addition to its first meeting on Tuesday 3 February at 2.30 pm, meet—
(a) on Tuesday 10 February at 8.55 am and 2.30 pm;
(b) on Tuesday 24 February at 8.55 am and 2.30 pm;
(c) on Thursday 26 February at 8.55 am and 2.30 pm;
(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the following order namely, Clauses 1 to 5, Schedule 1, Clause 6, Schedule 2, Clause 7, Schedule 3, Clauses 8 to 12, new Clauses, new Schedules, remaining proceedings on the Bill;
(3) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5 pm on Thursday 26 February.
I should like to begin our proceedings by welcoming you to the Chair, Mr. O'Brien. This is the first time for some years that I have had a speaking part in a Standing Committee, having previously occupied the position of my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker). However, I recall the occasion when I was a young Back Bencher, sitting and minding my own business in a Standing Committee, and the Chairman, who shall be nameless, decided to leave for a few moments and summoned that young Back Bencher to sit in your seat. I found myself chairing the Committee for longer than I had expected, including taking through a couple of clauses. My colleague, when he returned, could hardly believe it, and neither could I. I am sure that our proceedings will be similarly in order under your chairmanship.