[Mr David Crausby in the Chair]

Before I begin, I have a few preliminary announcements. I understand that the amendment papers are on their way. Members may, if they wish, remove their jackets in Committee, but please remember the rules on refreshments—water only. Please could everyone ensure that all electronic devices are turned off or are switched to silent mode during Committee. As a general rule, I and my fellow Chair do not intend to call starred amendments. The required notice period in Public Bill Committees is three working days. Therefore, amendments should be tabled by the rise of the House on a Monday for consideration on a Thursday and by the rise of the House on a Thursday for consideration on the following Tuesday.

Before we begin our line by line consideration of the Bill, some brief explanation may be useful to those who are relatively new to Public Bill Committees. The selection list for today’s sitting will soon be available in the room and will show how amendments selected for debate have been grouped for discussion. Amendments are generally grouped together on the same or a similar subject. The Member with their name to the lead amendment in a group is called first. Other Members are then free to catch my eye to speak to any or all amendments in the group. A Member may speak more than once in a single debate. At the end of the debate on a group, I will again call the Member with the lead amendment. Before they sit down, they must indicate whether they wish to withdraw the amendment or push it to a vote. Similarly, if another Member wishes to push a grouped amendment or a new clause to a vote they should let me know. I will assume that the Government wish the Committee to reach a decision on their amendment. Decisions on amendments do not take place in the order they are debated, but in the order they appear on the amendment paper, so decisions on new clauses will be made at the end of the Committee’s consideration of the Bill. I have discretion to decide on separate stand part debates on clauses and schedules, taking account of the extent of debate on amendments. This morning, the Adjournment of the Committee at 11.25 am is automatic; this afternoon, it is in the hands of the Whips but around 5 o’clock is the convention. We will now begin our line by line consideration of the Bill.