Roger Gale (North Thanet, Conservative)

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have two matters of concern and interest to tell the Committee. The usual channels have indicated that the Programming Sub-Committee will meet immediately after the consideration of the Bill is adjourned. Committee members need to be aware that that Committee may sit for two hours, although that is not necessary. Thereafter, any of its findings are debateable for a further half hour by the full Committee. That debate may take place this afternoon, although I suspect that it will take place, more properly and more probably, at the start of proceedings on Tuesday morning.

The other issue that I feel obliged to raise arises out of this morning’s events. The Home Secretary and shadow Home Secretary have made it abundantly plain that it is far too early to attribute cause or blame. Matters are still in a very evolutionary phase. I would therefore regard it as highly reprehensible if any Member from the Front or Back Benches sought, at this stage, to associate those events in any way with the legislation before us this afternoon.