– in a Public Bill Committee am ar 2 Mai 2006.
Joe Benton
Llafur, Bootle
4:00,
2 Mai 2006
There is a good chance that we will finish our proceedings this afternoon, but in the event of a second sitting, I do not intend to call starred amendments.
Yvette Cooper
Minister of State (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) (Housing and Planning)
I beg to move,
That—
(1) during proceedings on the Housing Corporation (Delegation) etc. Bill the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 2nd May) meet at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 9th May;
(2) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 9th May.
I welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Benton, and I welcome Committee members. As hon. Members will know from our debates in the Programming Sub-Committee and on Second Reading, we have had extensive discussions with Opposition parties about the content and background of the Bill and the need for it. I hope that we can proceed with a broad consensus on the need for the Bill and on its main provisions. For that reason, we have scheduled time today and on9 May for Committee discussions. We stand ready to have further discussions or provide further briefing if Committee members so request. I commend the programme motion to the Committee.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
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.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
