Social Security Contributions – in a Public Bill Committee am 10:30 am ar 30 Ionawr 2001.
Joe Benton
Llafur, Bootle
10:30,
30 Ionawr 2001
I remind the Committee that the debate on the programme motion may last up to half an hour.
Stephen Timms
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury
I beg to move,
That—
(1) three sittings shall be allotted to the consideration by the Standing Committee of the Social Security Contributions (Share Options) Bill;
(2) the second sitting shall be held on Tuesday 30th January at half-past Four o'clock and the third sitting shall be held on Thursday 1st February at Nine o'clock;
(3) proceedings on the Bill shall be concluded at the third sitting (unless concluded earlier).
I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Benton. I do not expect our proceedings to last long, given the modest size and character of the Bill, but I am sure that the Committee will agree that the prospect of expeditious completion is enhanced by your chairmanship.
I welcome all members of the Committee, which has the feel of a reunion, because some of us have previously debated related topics in Committee and on the Floor of the House. I am particularly pleased to see my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Colman), as well as the hon. Members for Arundel and South Downs (Mr. Flight) and for Torridge and West Devon (Mr. Burnett), with their long-standing interest in the taxation of share options.
Question put and agreed to.
In a normal session there are up to ten standing committees on bills. Each has a chair and from 16 to 50 members. Standing committee members on bills are appointed afresh for each new bill by the Committee of Selection which is required to take account of the composition of the House of Commons (ie. party proportions) as well as the qualification of members to be nominated. The committees are chaired by a member of the Chairmen's Panel (whose members are appointed by the Speaker). In standing committees the Chairman has much the same function as the Speaker in the House of Commons. Like the Speaker, a chairman votes only in the event of a tie, and then usually in accordance with precedent. The committees consider each bill clause by clause and may make amendments. There are no standing committees in the House of Lords.
