§ Mr. SpeakerI wish to make a brief statement. For the debate on Wednesday 12 March on the Second Reading of the Consolidated (No. 2) Bill, hon. Members may hand into my office by 9 am on Tuesday 11 March their names and the topics that they wish to raise. The ballot will be carried out as on the last occasion. An hon. Member may hand in only his or her own name and one topic.
The Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Bill includes certain Defence Supplementary Estimates for the current year, as set out in House of Commons Paper No. 436, certain Civil Supplementary Estimates for the current year, as set out in House of Commons Papers Nos. 437 and 438, and excesses in Defence and Civil Estimates for 1978–79, as set out in House of Commons Paper No. 435. It will be in order on Second Reading of the Bill to raise topics falling within the ambit of the expenditure proposed in these papers.
I shall put out the result of the ballot later on 11 March.