Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup, Conservative)

Good morning and happy new year. I remind the Committee that there is a money resolution in connection with the Bill. Copies are available in the room. I also remind hon. Members that adequate notice should be given of amendments. As a general rule, my fellow Chairman and I do not intend to call starred amendments, including any that might be reached during the afternoon sitting, which will be chaired by my colleague, Mr. Greg Pope.

Bridget Prentice (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Lewisham East, Labour)

I beg to move,

That—

(1) during proceedings on the Criminal Defence Service Bill [Lords] the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 am on Tuesday 10th January) meet—

(a) at 4.00 pm on Tuesday 10th January;

(b) at 9.00 am and 1.00 pm on Thursday 12th January;

(2) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 4.00 pm on Thursday 12th January.

I wish you a happy new year, Mr. Conway, and say what a delight it is to be serving under your chairmanship. You dealt with the programming sub-committee last night very effectively and informally. I hope that the Committee will follow in your footsteps in the course of today's debates.

Jonathan Djanogly (Shadow Solicitor General (Also Shadow Minister for Trade and Industry), Law Officers (Assist the Home Affairs Team); Huntingdon, Conservative)

Good morning, Mr. Conway. Likewise, I look forward to serving under your chairmanship. The programming sub-committee yesterday went very well from our point of view. We are happy with the motion and will not oppose it.

David Heath (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Leader of the House, Law Officers (Constitutional Affairs); Somerton & Frome, Liberal Democrat)

I, too, welcome you to the Committee, Mr. Conway, and wish you a happy new year. I hope that our proceedings will be commendably brief; I see no reason to extend them unnecessarily. Indeed, I would have been content with the Bill as it stands. However, the Government proved intransigent in one respect, which means that there will be a significant debate on at least one of the matters before us. Other than that, I hope that we can move to a speedy conclusion of our considerations.

Question put and agreed to.