§ Not amended (in the Committee), and as amended (in the Standing Committee), considered.
4.18 pm§ Mr. Teddy Taylor (Southend, East)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Will it be possible for you to reconsider the provisional selection and to include new clause 20? There are very special circumstances. If there were not, I would not mention it. First, if we do not discuss new clause 20, the House will have no opportunity of discussing in detail the application of VAT to hearing aids and spectacles, which is a very important issue. It also means that the House will not be able to discuss an issue that is constitutionally important—the decision of a foreign court in instructing the Government what tax to levy. Bearing in mind that a decision was made after the Bill's Second Reading, and that the House had no opportunity to consider those matters in detail, there is a case for having a straight debate on new clause 20.
§ Dr. John Marek (Wrexham)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has agreed to do something about vouchers for spectacles and the increase that will be necessary because of VAT being charged on them. Could he make a statement now, or get one of this colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Security to do so? Perhaps he could make such a statement if you selected the clause for debate.
§ Mr. SpeakerI examined the new clauses and amendments very carefully this morning, and I do not think that I can reconsider my selection at this stage. The hon. Gentleman will know, however, that clause 13 has been included in the Bill, and it would be perfectly in order to debate the matter on Third Reading.
§
Ordered,
That the Finance (No. 2) Bill, as amended, be considered in the following order, namely, new Clauses, amendments relating to Clause 1, Schedule I, Clauses 2 to 4, Schedule 2, Clauses 5 to 35, Schedule 3, Clauses 36 to 50, Schedule 4, Clauses 51 to 57, Schedule 5, Clauses 58 to 64, Schedule 6, Clauses 65 to 94, Schedule 7 Clauses 95 to 106, Schedule 8, Clauses 107 to 111, Schedule 9, Clauses 112 to 142, Schedule 10, Clause 143, Schedule 11, Clauses 144 to 146, new Schedules, amendments relating to Schedule 12.—[Mr. Kenneth Carlisle.]