Counter-Terrorism Bill
10:30 am
Crispin Blunt (Whip, Whips; Reigate, Conservative)
I beg to move, as an amendment to the motion, in the Table, column 3, after “Lord Carlile of Berriew QC”, insert “; Dame Stella Rimington”.
I echo the Minister’s welcome conservative remarks about the need to move back to a rickety old Committee Room next week, which would be preferable to this room for the legislative stage of our work. I formally welcome you to your position, Mr. Bercow. The amendment stands in the name of my hon. and recently learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield. I agree with the Minister about the need to conduct these proceedings in a calm manner, given the serious nature of the issues that they will address.
I welcome in particular to the Committee the hon. Members for Nottingham, East, for Stockton, South and for Sedgefield, who made contributions on Second Reading. I am slightly surprised that the eight hon. Members who take the Labour Whip and who spoke on Second Reading in a manner that might be described as hostile to elements of the Bill have somehow or other avoided selection for the Committee. The Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty’s Treasury, the hon. Member for Tynemouth may be able to throw some light on that.