Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford, Conservative)

Schedule 1 is the most difficult part of the Bill to consider. Sadly, I have not found something missing, unattached and hoping to find a home. However, I have looked through the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992—some might argue that I ought to get out more often. However, rather than try to scrutinise the elements of the schedule, which amends five or six different pieces of legislation, I simply ask the Paymaster General to confirm that, first, there are no adverse changes that will materially affect employers or employees that the Committee has not been made aware of. Secondly, will she also confirm that the proposals contain nothing that she believes will significantly change the revenue collected by the Government once the Bill is enacted?

Ms Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury; Bristol South, Labour)

I am more than happy to give my confirmation to the hon. Gentleman on both those points. The schedule amends other legislation. I assure the Committee that it contains the minor, technical and consequential amendments necessary to ensure that the measures in the Bill are reflected elsewhere in the statute book. It does no more than that. He will appreciate from a brief look at the schedule that it must cross-reference with a complex web of legislation.

Question put and agreed to.

Schedule 1 agreed to.

Schedule 2 agreed to.

Ms Dawn Primarolo (Paymaster General, HM Treasury; Bristol South, Labour)

On a point of order, Mr. Griffiths. I believe that that concludes our consideration. I congratulate you and Sir John on the speedy way in which you have helped us to scrutinise the Bill properly: this is a largely technical Bill, so I look forward to seeing both of you chairing the Finance Bill Committee as that will enable some of us to see something of the summer this year.

I thank the hon. Members for Hertford and Stortford and for North Norfolk for their constructive approach to the Bill. I hope that they agree that the aspirations that we seek to fulfil are ones that they also want to pursue and that this will not be a party matter.

I thank the Clerk, the Hansard writers, the doorkeepers, the police officers and my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, South (Margaret Moran), our Whip. In particular, I thank all my hon. Friends for their patience, understanding and fortitude and for their undying support for the principles in the Bill. I look forward to seeing them again to ensure the speedy passage of Government legislation.

With that, I thank you again very much, Mr. Griffiths, for your chairmanship of the Committee this afternoon.

Mr Mark Prisk (Hertford & Stortford, Conservative)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Griffiths. I reciprocate the Paymaster General's thanks to you and Sir John. It is not unknown for us to get into detailed arguments on certain points, but that is the crucial part of what Committees are about.

I thank the Paymaster General, who has dealt with the issues in a thorough but fairly brisk manner. That is important, because, after all, although these matters are apparently dry, they affect every employee and company in the land. Therefore, although the language and the meaning may be difficult to penetrate, they are important, so I offer my thanks to her.

Mr Norman Lamb (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat)

Further to that point of order, Mr. Griffiths. Finally, I associate myself with the Paymaster General's remarks. I cannot thank my team, but I thank you and Sir John, as well as the staff from the Department and the Clerks.

Bill to be reported, without amendment.

Committee rose at four minutes past Three o'clock.

Griffiths, Mr. Win ( Chairman)

Cohen, Harry

Cunningham, Tony

Hoyle, Mr.

Iddon, Dr.

Lamb, Norman

Marris, Rob

Moran, Margaret

Primarolo, Dawn

Prisk, Mr.

Watson, Mr.