(Except clauses 3, 5, 6, 15, 21, 49, 90 and 117 and new clauses amending section 74 of the Finance Act 2003)
Finance Bill
4:30 pm
Philip Hammond (Shadow Chief Secretary To the Treasury, Treasury; Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
On a point of order, Mr. Cook. I apologise for interrupting proceedings, but members of the Committee have just heard the Chancellor announce a proposed package of amendments to the Budget provisions on income tax changes. He told the House that the proposals would be introduced through the medium of the Finance Bill, which we are considering. Can the Minister advise the Committee at what stage the Government will introduce such proposals? Will they be tabled as new clauses or amendments to the Bill while it is being discussed in Committee, given that we have already dealt with the relevant clause, or does she intend not to release the proposals in detail until the Bill is discussed on Report? As members of the Committee will know, there is a great deal of public interest in the issue, and an important event is taking place next week. Given the gap between statements and the detail that has followed in the past, it would be greatly for the convenience of the Committee and the public if we could have the detailed proposals in the form of written amendments or new clauses to the Bill at the earliest possible opportunity.