Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood, Labour)

I remind the Committee that there is a money resolution in connection with this Bill, copies of which are available in the room. I should also like to remind hon. Members that adequate notice shouldbe given of amendments. As a general rule, I and my co-Chairman do not intend to call starred amendments, including any starred amendments that are introduced for an afternoon sitting of the Committee. Finally, hon. Members may remove their jackets, as the sun is shining.

Vera Baird (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Redcar, Labour)

I beg to move,

That—

(1) in addition to its first meeting on Thursday 15th March at 9.00 a.m., the Committee shall meet on—

(a) Thursday 15th March at 1.00 p.m.,

(b) Tuesday 20th March at 10.45 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.,

(c) Thursday 22nd March at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., and

(d) Tuesday 27th March at 10.45 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.;

(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the order shown below and shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 27th March. Clauses 1 and 2; Schedule 1; Clauses 3 and 4; Schedule 2; Clause 5; Schedule 3; Clauses 6 and 7; Schedule 4; Clauses 8 to 22; Schedule 5; Clauses 23 to 36; Schedule 6; Clauses 37 to 44; Schedule 7; Clauses 45 to 47; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 1; Clause 48; Schedules 8 and 9; Clauses 49 and 50; Schedule 10; Clauses 51 to 53; Schedule 11; Clauses 54 to 57; Schedules 12 and 13; Clauses 58 to 81; Schedule 14; Clauses 82 to 85; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 3; Clause 86; Schedule 15; Clauses 87 to 100; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 4; Clause 101; Schedule 16; Clauses 102 and 103; Schedules 17 to 20; Clauses 104 to 108; Schedule 21; Clauses 109 to 128; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 5; Clauses 129 to 133; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 6; Clause 134; Schedule 22; Clauses 135 to 141; Schedule 23; Clauses 142 to 144; remaining proceedings on the Bill.

Good morning, Mrs. Humble. I welcome you to the Chair. I am looking forward to renewing the close working relationship that you and I had on the Select Committee on Work and Pensions not so long ago.

I am extremely pleased that the Committee’s programme has been agreed through the usual channels in an amiable way. I am grateful to those who took part in that process. I expect that our proceedings will be pleasant, although I hope not too long an experience. The last time that I served on a Committee, we discussed the Company Law Reform Bill, which had 925 clauses and is the longest Bill that has ever been introduced to Parliament. That Committee was also notable for a further reason: since her child care provision failed, my hon. Friend the Member for   Burnley (Kitty Ussher) had to bring her one-year-old daughter with her to all the sittings. So long were our deliberations that the young girl learned to walk. Indeed, when needing a break, many hon. Members were seen holding the baby’s arms and strutting down the corridor with her. We cannot offer such nice distractions on this Committee, so we shall have to make what positive steps we can.

This is a good Bill. It was well received in the House of Lords, and I pay tribute to my colleague there, Baroness Ashton, whose open-minded, co-operative approach I intend to emulate, since I am sure that the Bill can be improved and that its rationales can be probed so that we understand it better. It will transform the Tribunals Service of this country, which plays such a vital role in relations between the individual and the state, adjudicating independently. It will introduce other beneficial changes to help the indebted who need help and who cannot pay, and enforce debts against those who will not pay. Finally, it will assist the museums and art galleries of the country to obtain loans of cultural objects without risk.

I look forward very much to our deliberations. I welcome my hon. Friends and gentlemen and ladies on the Opposition Benches to the Committee and look forward to some co-operative, helpful and improving work.

Henry Bellingham (Shadow Minister, Constitutional Affairs; North West Norfolk, Conservative)

It is a pleasure to serve for the first time under your chairmanship, Mrs. Humble.

I certainly endorse what the Minister said about the Bill. We support it in principle and we endorse much of its detail. We wish to probe some matters, and there may even be areas on which we shall push the hon. and learned Lady quite hard, particularly when we reach parts 3 and 4, which deal with bailiffs and powers of entry. In the main, we support the Bill. It has a lot of detail, but if we move at a sensible place I am sure that we shall get through it and give it proper scrutiny. I support the programme motion.

Simon Hughes (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Attorney General, Constitutional Affairs; North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)

I, too, welcome you to the Chair, Mrs. Humble. This is the first time that I served with you in the Chair, and the first time I have served on a Public Bill Committee as opposed to one of the myriad other predecessor Committees on which—with some exceptions—I have had the pleasure of serving. I share the view of the hon. Member for North-West Norfolk that the controversial parts of the Bill come later, in parts 3 and 4.

I should like to raise one further matter, if I may.The Minister has tabled a second motion about evidence, which she will no doubt move in a second. The guidance notes sent to Members on Public Bill Committees state:

“The programme for oral evidence will be included in the programme motion agreed by the Programming Sub-Committee and proposed by the Minister at the first meeting of the Public Bill Committee. The motion is debatable.”

I seek your guidance, Mrs. Humble. I want to propose that we take oral evidence from two organisations, so I assume that that request should come under the next motion for discussion, although the leaflet suggests that it might covered by the one we are considering. I shall take your guidance.

Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood, Labour)

If the hon. Gentleman wishes to move that proposal, he needs to do so as an amendment to the programme motion. We would need to have the text of any such proposal now.

Simon Hughes (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Attorney General, Constitutional Affairs; North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)

In that case, I shall write the proposal as I speak. I want to submit a manuscript amendment asking that the Committee hear evidence from National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and from the Local Government Association. This relates to the issues in parts 3 and 4—[Interruption.] I find it surprising that some people are so reluctant to see members of our local government family of friends. I have written the proposal, which is not in the best script in the world, but it will do.

Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood, Labour)

I must tell the Committee that I am not selecting the amendment.

Joan Humble (Blackpool North & Fleetwood, Labour)

I call the Minister to move the motion to report written evidence.