Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

Good morning. The relevant documentation is in the Room and the usual restrictions apply to starred amendments.

Ms Caroline Flint (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (reducing organised and international crime, anti drugs co-ordination and international and European issues), Home Office; Don Valley, Labour)

I beg to move,

That—

(1) during proceedings on the Drugs Bill the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 9.10 a.m. on Thursday 27th January) meet—

at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday 27th January;

at 9.10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday 1st February and Thursday 3rd February;

(2) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.55 p.m. on Thursday 3rd February.

I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Gale. I hope that we can make good progress in our consideration of the Bill in Committee.

Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Chesham & Amersham, Conservative)

I join the Minister in welcoming you to the Chair, Mr. Gale. I, too, hope that we can made good progress. The Bill is comparatively small; there are only 24 clauses.

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

Before we proceed, jackets may be removed. My co-Chairman will speak for himself.

Mr Alistair Carmichael (Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland), Northern Ireland Affairs; Orkney & Shetland, Liberal Democrat)

I also welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Gale. Like the Minister and the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan), I hope that we can make good progress.

Question put and agreed to.

Mr Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

I remind the Committee that there is a money resolution and a ways and means resolution and a ways and means resolution in connection with the Bill. Copies of the resolutions are available in the Room. I remind members that adequate notice should be given of any amendments. As a general rule, my co-Chairman and I do not intend to call starred amendments, including any starred amendments that may be reached during an afternoon sitting of the Committee.