[Sir Nicholas Winterton in the Chair]

BC 01 STEP, UNISON and Law Centre (Northern Ireland)

I welcome all members of the Committee to this sitting. It is a very pleasant day; I hope that the sun, with a few clouds—[Interruption]. Did I hear an electronic device, Minister?

No, Sir Nicholas.

I always take the word of a Minister. There was no electronic device.

Wrong Minister.

Anyway, I welcome you all and I am sure we shall continue to make progress. Before we begin, however, I inform the Committee that Officers of the House, printers, Ministers and Members of Parliament are not infallible. There was a printing mistake on the amendment paper before the Committee at its first sitting. The resolution agreed by the Programming Sub-Committee, which I chaired, stated that the Committee should meet at 4.00 pm this afternoon, rather than 4.30 pm. Unfortunately, the motion before the Committee at its first meeting stated 4.30 pm. I am, however, very much of the view that although we have strict procedures in this place, flexibility when agreed across the Floor by the usual channels and Back-Bench Members can prevail. I understand that there is an agreement between the usual channels that they would like to return to the 4.00 pm start time this afternoon. To get things utterly correct, therefore, I invite the Minister to move a motion amending the Programme Order accordingly.

Ordered—

That the Programming Order of 9th June be amended—

Line 6, Leave out ‘4.30 pm’ and insert ‘4.00 pm’. —[Mr Woolas.]

That is extremely satisfactory. We can now proceed with the Bill. We have reached clause 48, and I have selected amendment 56 in the name of the hon. Gentleman from that famous constituency of Ashford.