HC Deb 09 December 1974 vol 883 cc52-3
Mr. Grimond

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Could you assist the House on an important matter? I refer to the proceedings on the Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Bill, which the Government intend to deal with on one day, namely tomorrow? Since there are 134 amendments in Committee on that Bill, some from the Government, is it not impossible and absurd to ask the House to take all the remaining stages of the Bill within one day? This would never have been suggested had it been an English Bill. Perhaps there has been some change of programme in this respect, but so far it has not been announced. Could I, through you, Mr. Speaker, ask the Government to announce any revised business for tomorrow?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Robert Mellish)

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and in the absence of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, may I inform hon. Members that the business remains exactly as was read out last Thursday and that the situation in regard to the Offshore Petroleum Development (Scotland) Bill remains the same. The House will start with the Committee stage on the Floor of the House and we shall see how we get on tomorrow.