Amendments made: No. 17, in

schedule , page 8, line 4, column 2, at end insert

'In section 56, subsections (1) to (4).'.

No. 18, in

schedule , page 8, line 6, at end insert—

'Deregulation (Building) (Initial Notices and Final Certificates) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1905)

In article 3, paragraph (9)(a) and (b).'—[Mr. Stunell.]

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Question proposed, That the Chairman do report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

Before we conclude our proceedings, I wish to say a few words. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on successfully piloting his Bill through Committee stage. We have had two very good sittings and have learned a great deal about beauty from the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings. He suggested that in future we might use indices of beauty. We shall see how that works in future legislation.

I wish to thank all the members of the Committee. We have had some very good debates on amendments and clauses. The Government were unable to accept everything that hon. Members would have liked, particularly today. It was unfortunate that after we went through six clauses to which I was able on behalf of the Government to accept, promote and welcome various amendments, today I was unable to do so. However, the spirit of the Bill is positive, and members of the Committee made powerful contributions. I thank them for that.

I wish to thank the Clerks, Hansard and all the officials who kept us in good order—not that we needed to be kept in good order. I also thank officials of the Department, who have provided a great deal of support to members of the Committee and to me in taking the Bill to the conclusion of its Committee stage.

Finally, I thank you, Mr. Hurst, for your chairmanship of the Committee. We asked for alacrity and thoroughness, and we got both. I am grateful for your efforts in that regard.

Order. Strictly speaking, these matters should not be debated at this point, but I know how versatile hon. Members are in seeking points of order.

On a point of order, Mr. Hurst. It is strange that you should have said that.

Let me just say that I, too, congratulate the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on bringing the Bill this far and on the way in which it has been taken through the Committee. Contributions from all parts of the House have added to its proper consideration.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Hurst, let me thank you and all of those associated with the Committee for the work that they have done in helping my hon. Friends—I was pleased that my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir Sydney Chapman) gave me his able and assiduous support this morning—and I to scrutinise the Bill properly, and the Minister and Government Members for treating the Opposition with the kid gloves that the Minister knows that I need, because I am a sensitive flower, although not necessarily a beautiful one. Perhaps I can end by saying that, not just an index of beauty, but one of grace, elegance and style might also be added during the further consideration of the Bill, because, Mr. Hurst, as you personify, it is the pursuit of truth and beauty that is the greatest purpose of parliamentarians.

Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. Hurst. I thank the Minister. Today has perhaps been disappointing from my point of view, but I recognise that he and his officials have done their best to be helpful and constructive. In his defence, I would simply say that where he has not been able to be helpful and destructive—I mean constructive—[Laughter.] Where he has not been able to be helpful and constructive it has been largely on matters outside his area of responsibility.

I thank hon. Members on the Committee, who by their attendance and assiduous participation have shown just how important the topic really is. I believe that the Bill will make a contribution. As I have said several times, it is not the answer to everything, but it is a piece in the jigsaw. I hope that it will be reported to the House and that it will proceed well from then on.

I thank you, Mr. Hurst, as Chairman of the Committee, for keeping us in order when we were so often on the verge of boiling over. It has been an interesting experience piloting the Bill so far, and I look forward to reaching the harbour in due course.

Those were not, of course, points of order, but matters of civility.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill, as amended, to be reported.

Committee rose at eight minutes past Eleven o'clock.