[Mr. John McWilliam in the Chair]

I apologise to the Committee for being late. My street is being dug up and there is a five-minute detour to get here, but no one warned us.

I beg to move,

That—

(1) During proceedings on the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill the Standing Committee shall meet four times, namely on Tuesday 10th December at 10.30 am and 4.30 pm, and on Thursday 12th December at 8.55 am and 2.30 pm

(2) Proceedings on the Bill in Standing Committee shall, so far as not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion in accordance with the following table—

TABLE

Proceedings

Conclusion of proceedings

Clauses 1 to 3

1.00 pm on 10th December

Clauses 4 and 5

7.00 pm on 10th December

Clauses 6 to 11

11.25 am on 12th December

Clauses 12 to 16, new Clauses, new Schedules and any remaining proceedings

5.00 pm on 12th December

I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. McWilliam, and to this Committee; I also welcome all other hon. Members. At the moment, that is all I wish to say.

I join the Minister in welcoming you, Mr. McWilliam, and your co-Chairman Mr. Conway, to the Chair, to preside over our proceedings for the two sitting days of this Committee. I place on record the fact that, on principle, the Opposition have always opposed the idea of guillotine motions, as they stifle the opportunity for debate not only in Committee but in the House.

Question put and agreed to.

Starred amendments will not be accepted, so any amendments should be tabled in good time. There is a money resolution, copies of which are available. I do not intend to call any manuscript amendments either.Clause 1 Meaning of ''NHS body'' and ''qualifying hospital patient''