Clause 5 - Setting-up date and terms of reference
Inquiries Bill [Lords]
11:15 am

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

I beg to move amendment No. 36, in clause 5, page 2, line 21, at end insert—

‘(ia)consult, as appropriate, on the terms of reference.’.

Mr Win Griffiths (Bridgend, Labour)

With this it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 38, in clause 5, page 2, line 28, at end insert

‘and may consult any other person or bodies as he considers appropriate.’.

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

The effect of both amendments is to give the Minister the power to consult beyond the chairman about the terms of reference for any inquiry set up under the Bill. Hon. Members who have taken the time and trouble to read them will see that they are   identical in their effect, if not in their terms. There may be one of two explanations for that. The Committee may wish to accept my view that we have offered the Minister two versions of the same thing from which he can choose. The Committee may feel, however, that this is an inevitable consequence of trying to manage   affairs in Committee from the remoter parts of a fairly remote constituency on a Friday afternoon when deadlines for tabling amendments loom.