New Clause 23
Political Parties and Elections Bill
3:45 pm
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
The last word lies with the Chairman. I thank the members of the Committee for their generous comments, which I will ensure are brought to the attention of my co-Chairmen. I thank all those responsible for the orderly conduct of the Committee. That is, the Clerks—who do a wonderful job; I do not think that the House fully appreciates their excellent work—the Hansard reporters, the police and the Doorkeepers, all of whom are essential to the orderly conduct of a Public Bill Committee.
May I congratulate those on the Front Benches, particularly the Minister? I always admire a Minister who deals with a Bill on his own. It certainly is not easy; he cannot get away. Like the Chairman, he has to sit there all the time, but perhaps unlike the Chairman, the Minister must be on top form and the master of his brief. All those on the Front Benches—the Official Opposition, the Liberal Democrats and the Government—have made this, for me, a very enjoyable Committee.
To end on a positive note, I really enjoy my job on the Chairmen’s Panel. One gets to know colleagues in all parts of the House very much better and one can establish an understanding and a relationship with them, which I believe is what makes Parliament a great place to be a Member of. I thank the Committee for the way in which it has dealt with the Bill. We did not debate it all, but I am sure that the Government will try to ensure that those parts to which the hon. Member for Cambridge drew attention get priority during the remaining stages of the Bill.