[Mr. Eric Illsley in the Chair]

Motion made, and Question proposed,

That the Order of the Committee [17 December] be further amended, in paragraph (6), by leaving out '11.25 am' and inserting '5.15 pm'.—[Hilary Benn.]

I beg to move, as an amendment to that amendment, to leave out ''5.15'' and insert ''4.55''.

We may have a slight problem, in that we are likely to have votes from 5 pm onwards, and if the votes continue the Committee would have to come back at 7 pm to conclude its business. I therefore propose that we conclude at 4.55 pm.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for moving the amendment, which I certainly support. However, I hope that we might take a look during the course of today at what we have to consider, including the remaining clauses that need to be completed by 4.55 pm. We are not allowing ourselves enough time to consider the forthcoming clauses, yet many of the clauses that need to be considered between Thursday and the following week may prove to be non-controversial. I wonder whether we have got the knives right, and I hope that we may be able to revisit that question at lunchtime.

There may well be some substance in what the hon. Gentleman is saying. It would be a shame if we were to curtail debate on something important in order to extend debate on clauses that may be less controversial. There may be a case for revising the programme yet again, in order to ensure that we give ourselves enough space to do what is needed.

In my view, although clauses 204 to 264 currently have a whole week, we do not need that much time. However, today's business up to clause 203 needs considerably more time. Opposition Members would appreciate it if that could be taken into account. I note particularly that we have no difficulty with the knife on 13 February; it is just a question of the spread of business between now and then.

I back what my hon. Friend said. I note that we have to get through something like 70 clauses, including some new clauses that I have tabled that are close to my heart. I hope that the Government will be flexible. If we do not get through all today's business—and if we have behaved ourselves by speaking briefly and to the point, and not wasting the Committee's time—I hope that the Government will look kindly at changing the timing of the knife to allow us to discuss the Bill as we are meant to do.

Having heard the debate so far on the matter, I suspect that before too long there will be discussions through the usual channels to find some way of resolving the dilemma that we now face.

I am happy to go along with the wishes of hon. Members. Through the usual channels, we shall try to work out a new programme. I am sorry to inconvenience you, Mr. Illsley, but it seems as if that would be helpful to the Committee.

Amendment agreed to.

Main Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the Order of the Committee [17 December] be further amended, in paragraph (6), by leaving out '11.25 am' and inserting '4.55 pm'.