Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
I welcome hon. Members on both sides to the first sitting of this Public Bill Committee. Before we begin, I have some preliminary announcements. I am ever conscious of the comfort of Members, and if it gets a little warmer and they wish to take off their jackets, I am happy that they should do so. Again, and I say this with considerable emphasis, please would Members ensure that mobile phones, pagers and other electronic gadgets are switched to silent mode or preferably turned off during Committee.
I advise Members that there is a money resolution and a Ways and Means resolution in connection with the Bill and copies are available in the room. Adequate notice of amendments should be given and, as a general rule, I and my fellow Chairman, Anne Begg, do not intend to call starred amendments, including any that may be reached during an afternoon sitting. The Committee will first be asked to consider the programme motion, which is on the amendment paper, for which debate is limited to half an hour. We will then proceed to a motion to report written evidence, which I hope we can take formally. My first task, which is a pleasure, is to call the Minister to move the programme motion. I understand that he is to take this Bill through on his own, and we all wish him well in that heavy responsibility.