[Mr David Crausby in the Chair]

Before we begin, I have a few preliminary announcements. First, please switch electronic devices to silent. Tea and coffee are not allowed during sittings.

Today, the Committee will be asked to consider the programme motion on the Amendment paper, on which debate is limited to half an hour. We will then consider a motion to permit the Committee to deliberate in private in advance of the oral evidence session, followed by a motion to report written evidence. In view of the time available, I hope we can take those matters formally. Assuming agreement, we will then move into private session to agree questions. Witnesses and members of the public will then be invited back into the room and our oral evidence session will begin.

Ordered,

That—

(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 3.30 pm on Monday 21 July) meet—

(a) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 2 September;

(b) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 4 September;

(c) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 9 September;

(d) at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 11 September;

(e) at 9.25 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 14 October;

(2) the Committee shall hear oral evidence on Monday 21 July in accordance with the following Table—

TABLE

Time

Witness

Until not later than 4.00 pm

Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions; National Crime Agency

Until not later than 4.45 pm

Church of England; Catholic Bishops for England and Wales

Until not later than 5.30 pm

Centre for Social Justice; Kalayaan; Unseen UK

Until not later than 6.00 pm

Nadine Finch, Garden Court Chambers; Peter Carter QC, Red Lion Chambers

(3) proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 13; Schedule 1; Clauses 14 and 15; Schedule 2; Clauses 16 to 39; Schedule 3; Clauses 40 to 46; Schedule 4; Clauses 47 to 51; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill.

(4) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 5.00 pm on Tuesday 14 October. —(Karen Bradley.)

The deadline for amendments to be considered in the Committee’s two sittings on Tuesday 2 September is 4.30 pm on Thursday 28 August.

Resolved,

That, at this and any subsequent meeting at which oral evidence is to be heard, the Committee shall sit in private until the witnesses are admitted.—(Karen Bradley.)

Resolved,

That, subject to the discretion of the Chair, any written evidence received by the Committee shall be reported to the House for publication.—(Karen Bradley.)

Copies of written evidence received by the Committee will be made available in the Committee Room. We will now briefly go into private session to discuss lines of questioning.

The Committee deliberated in private.