Mr Thomas Steele: Order. The hon. Gentleman must indicate the Amendment which he is discussing.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. This is where the hon. Gentleman is going astray. We are not actually dealing with the Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill" at the moment. We are dealing with the specific point of the Amendment.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. I must draw the hon. Gentleman's attention to the fact that the Amendment numbers which he has quoted deal with part-time workers or disabled people only.
Mr Thomas Steele: I cannot accept a Motion for the Closure. I have no authority to do so.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. If the Financial Secretary does not give way, the hon. and learned Gentleman must resume his seat.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. An interruption should be short.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. The hon. Member must remain seated if the hon. and learned Member who has the Floor does not give way.
Mr Thomas Steele: Further to that point of order. Is not the experience we are having this afternoon reinforcing the opinion of—
Mr Thomas Steele: Note will be taken of the hon. Member's request.
Mr Thomas Steele: We are not discussing the principles of the tax at this point. We are discussing an Amendment and I hope that the hon. Member will relate what he is saying to the Amendment.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. We are not considering the selective nature of the tax. We are considering the date of operation.
Mr Thomas Steele: I do not see the relevance of this argument to the Amendment, which deals with time.
Mr Thomas Steele: I think that it will be convenient for the Committee if we take at the same time Amendment No. 19, in line 20, leave out "twenty-five shillings" and insert "seven-pence", Amendment No. 22, in line 23, leave out "twelve shillings and sixpence" and insert "fourpence", Amendment No. 25, in line 24, leave out "twelve shillings and sixpence" and insert "fourpence", and Amendment No. 28, in line...
Mr Thomas Steele: Does my right hon. Friend recall that in an Answer to a Question from me some time ago he indicated that a number of policemen were transferring from Scottish forces to forces south of the Border? In this inquiry will he try to ascertain the cause of this so that some solution to the problem may be found?
Mr Thomas Steele: Would the Prime Minister say on what basis he proposes to renegotiate the Nassau Agreement, in view of the fact that the Polaris programme itself is half-way completed? What other aspects have to be renegotiated?
Mr Thomas Steele: Is my right hon. Friend aware that, because there are so few Scottish Tory Members, it now requires a very big proportion of English Conservative Members to constitute the Grand Committee and that English Members might object to the Scottish Grand Committee meeting so often?
Mr Thomas Steele: On a point of order. Can you advise me, Mr. Speaker, whether it is a new departure that we should have a long statement and so many questions and answers about a White Paper which is to be debated the following week?
Mr Thomas Steele: I am not sure that this is the opportunity for the Opposition to do this and I think that we ought to confine ourselves to the new Clause.
Mr Thomas Steele: That does not entirely follow. I hope that the hon. Lady will apply herself to the Clause.
Mr Thomas Steele: Order. We are not on Second Reading.