HC Deb 17 May 1999 vol 331 c643

As amended in the Standing Committee, considered.

Ordered,

That the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill, as amended, be considered in the following order, namely: New Clauses; amendments relating to Clauses 1 to 6, Schedule 1, Clauses 7 to 16, Schedule 2, Clause 17, Schedule 3, Clauses 18 and 19, Schedule 4, Clauses 20 to 29, Schedule 5, Clauses 30 to 44, Schedule 6, Clauses 45 to 50, Schedule 7, Clauses 51 to 61, Schedule 8, Clauses 62 to 64, Schedule 9, Clause 65, Schedule 10, Clauses 66 to 70, Schedule 11 and Clause 71; New Schedules; amendments relating to Clauses 72 and 73, Schedule 12, Clauses 74 to 76, Schedule 13 and Clauses 77 to 79.

3.36 pm
Mr. Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green)

On a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is relevant to the Bill and to the way in which the Government treat the House. Late on Thursday, at the last moment, the Government tabled new clauses and amendments that will add three new subject areas to what is already a very big and complex Bill. You will be aware that on Second Reading and throughout the Bill's consideration in Committee, we complained that the Bill already resembled three to four Bills compressed into one, which has meant that proper scrutiny has always been difficult, and that proper voting intentions could not be properly declared.

The Government have now compounded that. On Thursday evening, essentially two working days ahead of Report, with little or no notification, they tabled new clauses and amendments on three areas: state maternity allowances, the effect of insolvency on pension rights, and earnings of workers supplied by service companies. At least two of those matters were mentioned in the Budget and are currently out for consultation—but this is way ahead of any return on that consultation—and they refer directly to the Finance Bill.

Some six Government new clauses and 12 Government amendments were tabled on Thursday night, with no warning, lengthening the Bill. That is an abuse, and it makes it very difficult indeed to deal with the Bill in a decent time.

Madam Speaker

I am sympathetic to the burdens that are placed on hon. Members in such a situation, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that the usual procedures were carried out. I remind the House that Friday is a proper working day for the House—for some of us, at least. Amendments may be tabled from 9.30 am until 3 o'clock, so there was an opportunity to do so at that juncture.

  1. New Clause 5
      2. cc643-63
    1. EXTENSION OF ENTITLEMENT TO STATE MATERNITY ALLOWANCE 10,685 words, 1 division
  2. New Clause 10
      3. cc663-701
    1. OPTIONAL WORK-FOCUSED INTERVIEWS 20,877 words, 1 division
  3. New Clause 11
      4. cc701-26
    1. EXCESSIVE PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY PERSONS WHO HAVE BECOME INSOLVENT 13,815 words, 1 division
  4. New Clause 12
      5. cc726-9
    1. EXCESSIVE PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY PERSONS WHO HAVE BECOME INSOLVENT: SCOTLAND 1,408 words
  5. New Clause 15
      6. cc729-46
    1. EARNINGS OF WORKERS SUPPLIED BY SERVICE COMPANIES ETC. 8,757 words
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