[Sandra Osborne in the Chair]

We now begin line-by-line consideration of the Bill. If Members wish, they may remove their jackets in Committee, but if anyone does I will be very surprised at this temperature. Please ensure that all your electronic devices are switched off or in silent mode.

The selection list for today’s sittings is available in the room. It shows how the selected amendments have been grouped together for debate. Amendments grouped together are generally on the same or a similar issue. A Member who has put his or her name to the leading amendment in a group is called first. Other Members are then free to catch my eye to speak on all or any of the amendments in the group. A Member may speak more than once in a single debate.

I will work on the assumption that the Minister wishes the Committee to reach a decision on all Government amendments. Please note that decisions on amendments take place not in the order in which they are debated, but in the order in which they appear in the amendment paper. In other words, debate occurs according to the grouping in the selection list and decisions are taken when we come to the clause that the amendment affects. I hope that explanation is helpful.

I will use my discretion to decide whether to allow a separate stand-part debate on individual clauses and schedules following the debates on the relevant amendments.