Written evidence to be reported to the House
Health and Social Care Bill
10:31 am
Jimmy Hood (Lanark and Hamilton East, Labour)
Before we begin, I have a few preliminary announcements to make. If they wish, hon. Members may remove their jackets during the Committee sittings. Will they ensure that in Committee their mobile phones and pagers are turned off or are switched to silent mode? I remind them that copies of the money resolution in connection with the Bill are available in the room. Adequate notice should be given of amendments. As a general rule, I and my fellow Chairman do not intend to call starred amendments, including any that may be reached during an afternoon sitting.
We are still in the early days of taking oral evidence in Public Bill Committees so it might be helpful if I explain briefly what is proposed so that we can be clear about matters. The Committee will first be asked to consider the programme motion on the amendment paper for which debate is limited to half an hour. We will then proceed to a motion to report written evidence followed by a motion to permit the Committee to deliberate in private in advance of the oral evidence sessions. I hope that we can take the motions formally.
Assuming that the second of the motions is agreed, the Committee will move into private session. Once the Committee has deliberated, the witnesses and members of the public will be invited back into the room and the oral evidence session will commence. If the Committee agrees to the programme motion, it will hear oral evidence today and on Thursday morning before reverting on Thursday afternoon to the more familiar proceedings of clause-by-clause scrutiny. I call the Minister to move the programme motion.