Pensions Bill
10:45 am
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
I liked the hon. Gentleman’s last comment. He has given notice that he may be absent for one or two of the sittings because of other parliamentary engagements. It is up to each Member to decide their priorities and if the hon. Gentleman needs to be in Europe for important meetings representing this House the Committee will understand.
May I say to the hon. Member for Eastbourne, following the experiment in the last session with the Legal Services Bill, it was agreed that a further trial of explanatory statements on amendments should be undertaken? The Pensions Bill is one of three chosen for the second phase of the experiment. The hon. Gentleman spoke about the need to table the explanatory note at the same time as the amendment, but that could be possible that that could be changed. The amendment could be tabled and the explanatory note could follow. I do emphasise, therefore, that this is the second phase of an experiment. The Clerk and I have taken note of what the hon. Gentleman has said.