HC Deb 01 April 1998 vol 309 cc1271-3

Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee), That the Report [31st March] from the Business Committee be now considered.—[Mr. Clelland.]

Question agreed to.

Report considered accordingly.

Resolved,

That this House doth agree with the Committee in its Resolution.—[Mr. Clelland.]

Following is the report of the Business Committee [31 March]:

That it had come to a Resolution [31st March] in respect of the Regional Development Agencies Bill, which it had directed him to report to the House:

That each part of the Proceedings on Consideration shall, if not previously brought to a conclusion, be brought to a conclusion (in accordance with the Programme Order of 27th March) at the time specified in the following Table:

TABLE
Proceedings Time for conclusion of proceedings
New Clause 2 and New Clause 1 5.30 p.m.
New Clause 3 7.15 p.m.
Remaining New Clauses and Amendments to Clauses 1 to 19 8.00 p.m.
Amendments to Clauses 20 to 23 9.00 p.m.
Remaining Amendments 10.30 p.m.

Report to lie upon the Table.

Mr. Soames

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. I would not want you to pass this moment by without agreeing that it is important that money resolutions are debated in the House. Do you agree that it is not to the advantage of the House of Commons that money resolutions are rarely debated? Do you further agree that, when they are, it is important that the Opposition be given a chance to lay before a greater public the arguments relating to that particular legislation?

Madam Speaker

The hon. Gentleman will know from his long experience in the House and certainly as a Minister that there is often opportunity to debate money resolutions. There was three quarters of an hour for today's money resolution debate. There has been ample opportunity for the Opposition: only two hon. Members sought to debate it in three quarters of an hour.

Mr. Soames

Further to that point of order, Madam Speaker. I am sorry to be a bore, but do you agree that there are few occasions on which a money resolution is capable of being debated because of a short-sighted act by members of my party when in government, who agreed to money resolutions on major Government business not being debated? Do you agree that it is an eternal failing of the procedures of the House that we do not debate money resolutions?

Mr. Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield)

This is not a point of order.

Mr. Soames

It is a point of order. It was only because of people such as Bob Cryer and the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) that money resolutions were debated—they always used to debate money resolutions as a matter of principle. Now that we do not, do you agree, Madam Speaker, that that is a deficiency in our life in the House of Commons?

Madam Speaker

The hon. Gentleman is never a bore; he always has something interesting to say. It was barely a point of order, but there was an opportunity today to discuss the money resolution. The Opposition have had an opportunity to do so and have done so. Whenever there is an opportunity to discuss a money resolution, no doubt hon. Members such as himself will seize that opportunity. That is as far as I can go with his point of order.