Counter-Terrorism Bill
10:30 am
Martin Salter (Reading West, Labour)
Welcome to the Chair, Mr. Bercow. I will take your strictures for brevity extremely seriously and just want to make three points. While it would be inappropriate to get into a debate about the credentials of Dame Stella Rimington and the evidence that she might give us, the hon. Member for Reigate should be aware that the Home Affairs Committee has just concluded a lengthy inquiry in which we took an immense amount of evidence from expert witnesses. At no point did any Conservative member of that Committee seek to have Dame Stella Rimington called to give up-to-date evidence. The hon. Gentleman should bear that in mind, because he is out of line with the views of his own colleagues on the Home Affairs Committee.
My final point—it is probably worth putting on the record—is that I understand that Dame Stella Rimington is involved in Conservative party policy groups, and that does not in any way exclude her from giving useful evidence. [Interruption.] It is useful to put that on the public record since the hon. Gentleman seems to be completely ignorant of the fact. May I also ask the Minister to make it clear to the Committee when he sums up how much time the House will get to discuss the Bill on Report, because that stage is extremely important for the Bill and it would be useful to clarify that point?