§
Motion made, and Question put forthwith,
That a select committee of thirteen Members be appointed to report on the draft bill on the Food Standards Agency (Cm. 4249);
That Ms Diana Organ, Ms Sally Keeble, Audrey Wise, Dr. Howard Stoate, Dr. Lewis Moonie, Mr. Martyn Jones, Mr. Kevin Barron, Dr. Stephen Ladyman, Mr. Owen Paterson, Mr. David Curry, Mr. Robert Walter, Dr. Peter Brand and the Reverend Martin Smyth be members of the Committee;
That the Committee have power
- (a) to send for persons, papers and records;
- (b) to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House;
- (c) to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom;
- (d) to appoint specialist advisers; and
- (e) to communicate to any select committee of either House their evidence and any other documents relating to matters of common interest; and
That the Committee shall report by 3 I st March 1999.—[Mr. Betts.]
§ Sir Peter Emery (East Devon)Object.
§ Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Lord)The motion cannot be proceeded with if it is opposed.
§ Sir Peter EmeryOn a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Do you not think that there is something very wrong with appointing a Select Committee when the Government have already announced—I think quite wrongly—that a £90 fee will be imposed across the board on all food outlets, irrespective of size or location?
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerThe right hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that the motion is not debatable in any way. That is not a point of order.