FINANCE BILL (Hansard, 15 June 1966)

HC Deb 15 June 1966 vol 729 cc1466-7 1466

§ Considered in Committee.

§ [Sir ERIC FLETCHER in the Chair]

§ 3.39 p.m.

§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. James Callaghan)
I beg to move, That the order in which proceedings in Committee on the Finance Bill are taken shall be Clauses 1 to 9, Schedule 1, Clauses 10 to 14, Schedule 2, Clauses 15 to 23, Schedule 3, Clauses 24 and 25, Schedules 4 and 5, Clause 26, Schedule 6, Clause 27, Schedule 7, Clauses 28 and 29, Schedule 8, Clauses 30 to 41. Schedule 9. Clause 42, Schedule 10, Clause 43, Schedule 11, remaining Clauses, new Clauses, Schedule 12, new Schedules. The Motion is in standard form and will enable the Committee to consider the Schedules to particular Clauses immediately after the consideration of the Clauses. I think that this is for the convenience of the Committee. Both sides have normally accepted that this is the better way to proceed.

§ Question put and agreed to.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod (Enfield, West)
On a point of order. I wonder whether I could raise a point which may be for the convenience of the Committee about the posting of the selected list of Amendments, which is a great convenience to the Committee, especially so to members of the Opposition.
When this subject was raised last year your predecessor said that whenever possible mid-day would be a convenient time for posting. I appreciate the difficulties, and I do not raise this in any carping spirit, but it was after 1 o'clock today when the list was posted in the Lobby. I wonder whether this is something that you could take into account, Sir Eric, and see whether something can be done to move the list to around midday for future sittings of the Committee?

§ The Chairman
I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. He will remember that it was about 1960 that the practice began of posting in the Lobby a provisional selection of Amendments. It is my intention to follow that practice and to endeavour to post in the Lobby on every day upon which the Committee sits a list of my provisional selections.
1467 It is obviously impossible to give any guarantee about the hour at which that list can be posted. I have ascertained that in the past it has generally been between 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock, but I know how convenient it is for hon. Members and I will endeavour to see that a list is posted as early as can conveniently be arranged.
I should perhaps take this opportunity of emphasising that the list is purely provisional and that the Chair must reserve the right to alter the provisonal selection if circumstances so require.

§ Mr. Macleod
That is understood. I am grateful to you, on behalf of the Opposition, for what you have said, Sir Eric.

§ Mr. A. Woodburn (Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire)
May I raise a point of order? Just now the Chair had to read out quite a number of things that were on the Notice Paper. During the course of the Bill there will be a great many Amendments on the Paper which are rather complicated, and which Members do not understand even if they are read out. Would it not be possible for the Chair to say that the Amendment as per the words on the Paper should be put and thus reduce a great deal of the effort required from both the Chair and hon. Members?

§ The Chairman
I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman. I certainly welcome that suggestion and hope that it will be acceptable to the Committee.

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