(Except clauses 11, 18, 40, 43, 44 and 69 and schedule 8)
Finance Bill
10:30 am
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
The hon. Gentleman posed one or two questions that are really for the Chairman. First, I was wrong when I said that this was the Finance Bill 2005, and others have been wrong when they called it the second Finance Bill this year. I have been advised that it is, in fact, the third Finance Bill, the first having been withdrawn. That is a point of accuracy.
Secondly, what time the Committee starts its deliberations on Thursday is not really a matter for the Chairman, or even for the Liaison Committee; it is a matter for the Government, the House and the Chairmen's Panel. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Chairman's Panel will spend some time considering Thursday sittings. However, the Committee needs to take account of not only Members of Parliament, but those who serve the Committee, such as the Clerks. A great of work goes into preparing a sitting of a Bill. Clerks might get away late the evening before but still have to be in extremely early to marshal amendments and do all the appropriate work to ensure that things are in order and can proceed satisfactorily when the Committee sits. None the less, the Opposition spokesman's views have indeed been heard.
Question put and agreed to.