Clause 48 - Employment to provide facilities for gambling
Gambling Bill
4:00 pm
Mr Peter Pike (Burnley, Labour)
Order. I want to give a little guidance to the Committee. I recognise that an important issue of principle has been debated, but I have to focus Committee members' minds on the fact that we need to reach clause 218 by 5.30 pm on Thursday this week. The Chair does not have the power to determine on relative merits or importance what issues should be before the Committee. That is for the Committee and Members taking part in the debate. However, I have to have mind to the stage of the proceedings agreed to in the programme order.
As I do not know what time the Committee is to finish this evening, I should say that if we go beyond 5.30 pm I shall take a comfort break at some stage. I give that guidance in the hope that we will not need to take such a break. However, the power of deciding when we have a break is in my hands if I do not know when we are going to finish. I hope that that is helpful to the Committee, and focuses minds.