Health Bill

Edward O'Hara (Knowsley South, Labour)

Before we begin, I shall make a few preliminary announcements from the Chair. First, as a humanitarian gesture, hon. Members may remove their jackets. In return for that humanitarian gesture, I request that all hon. Members ensure that their mobile phones are either switched off or in silent mode during meetings of the Committee. There is a money resolution in connection with the Bill, and copies are available in the Room.

I remind hon. Members that adequate notice should be given of amendments. As a general rule, my fellow Chairman, Mr. Bercow, and I do not intend to call starred amendments, including any starred amendments that may be reached during an afternoon sitting of the Committee.

Turning to the business of the Committee, first, we shall be considering the programme motion, which is on the amendment paper. A debate may take place, but it is limited to half an hour. We will then proceed to a motion to report written evidence, which is also on the amendment paper. I hope that we can take that formally.

Mike O'Brien (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; North Warwickshire, Labour)

I beg to move,

That—

(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 am on Tuesday 16 June) meet—

(a) at 4.00 pm on Tuesday 16 June;

(b) at 9.30 am and 1.00 pm on Thursday 18 June;

(c) at 10.30 am and 4.00 pm on Tuesday 23 June;

(d) at 9.30 am and 1.00 pm on Thursday 25 June;

(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 13, Schedule 1, Clauses 14 to 16, Schedule 2, Clauses 17 to 19, Schedule 3, Clauses 20 to 24, Schedule 4, Clauses 25 to 33, Schedule 5, Clauses 34 to 37, Schedule 6, Clauses 38 to 40, new Clauses, new Schedules, remaining proceedings on the Bill;

(3) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Thursday 25 June.

I begin by welcoming you to the Chair of the Committee, Mr. O’Hara. I hope that under the expert tutelage of yourself and Mr. Bercow we can make good progress in handling this important Bill for the national health service. I hope that this resolution of the Programming Sub-Committee is passed by the Committee, so that we can meet and discuss in an orderly way the various clauses and schedules of the Bill.

Stephen O'Brien (Shadow Minister, Health; Eddisbury, Conservative)

Thank you, Mr. O’Hara—with three apostrophes in the Room, we are going to have some fun. I join the welcome given to you and your co-Chairman by the Minister. We look  forward to being guided and supervised under your experience and tutelage. I am sure that we will all endeavour to ensure that the Bill is given proper scrutiny.

As a matter of principle, the official Opposition have concerns about the programming of Bills and programme motions. Indeed, from time to time we have raised formal objections about the number of Bills that are not given adequate time to be scrutinised properly. None the less, on this occasion the eight scheduled sittings should be enough to give proper scrutiny to the Bill. We will do our best to ensure that we meet that timetable.