Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government; Oldham East & Saddleworth, Labour)

I beg to move,

That the Order of the Committee [30 January] be varied as follows—

In paragraph 1(d) leave out ‘and 2.00 p.m.’.

Thank you, Mr. Chope, and welcome to a traditional-style sitting of the Committee. The amendment is proposed on the basis of advice from the usual channels that, due to the inclement weather inthe south-east of England, we should not meet this afternoon.

Alistair Burt (Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government), Communities and Local Government; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)

I echo the Minister’s welcome to you, Mr. Chope, to these formal sittings in the more familiar surroundings of this Committee room.

On behalf of the official Opposition, I am happy to agree to the amendment. [Interruption.] There could not be a better reason for the amendment than the bedraggled state of the hon. Member for Bedford, who has arrived at exactly the right moment. There could not be a more fitting example of why the amendment is necessary. Even beyond the south-east of England,the situation is quite bad, and colleagues who haveto go back to other ends of the country will welcome the amendment, as may some members of staff.The amendment has arrived in the nick of time, notwithstanding the fact that the whole country seems to grind to a halt if there is half an inch of snow somewhere.

Phil Woolas (Minister of State (Local Government & Community Cohesion), Department for Communities and Local Government; Oldham East & Saddleworth, Labour)

The south does; we do not.

Alistair Burt (Shadow Minister (Communities and Local Government), Communities and Local Government; North East Bedfordshire, Conservative)

Some of us northerners might be more hardened. However, communications can be difficult and airports are closed, so I am sure that the amendment will make things more convenient for all.

Andrew Stunell (Shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Communities and Local Government), Department for Communities and Local Government; Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)

I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Chope. It is a delight to take part in a debate that for once is not about Shrewsbury. I agree with the proposed amendment.