Clause 16
Finance Bill
1:30 pm
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
Order. I have to interrupt the hon. Gentleman. If two Committee members—namely, the two Whips—leave, the Committee will become inquorate, and I will have to suspend the sitting. I say to the Opposition and Government Whips that I have, uniquely, requested a Doorkeeper to bring an additional Member back into the Committee. The hon. Member for Ealing, North has obliged, and I see that two more hon. Members have done so. I suggest to both Whips that they should realise that as the Chair, I must see 11 Members in the Committee. If the number of Committee members drops below 11, I am obliged to suspend the sitting. If both the Whips now wish to leave, they may do so with impunity, but I hope that they will not do so for long.