§ 4.25 p.m.
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, I was anticipating a request from the other side with regard to the Community Land Bill but I will disclose now to the House that immediately on my return from sunny climes I was presented with a request by noble Lords opposite that two clauses of the Community Land Bill should be recommitted. I understand and fully appreciate the reasons why the request was made. The week before last we recommitted on Report a major new Amendment, and it was done because the Amendment was of new substance. This request is for the recommittal of clauses which have already been considered in Committee, and I am naturally very hesitant, therefore, to agree to this proposal.
However, in the light of the problems of dealing with Business at the end of this Session, it may well be that there was insufficient time for these clauses to be adequately considered, so I am agreeable to these two clauses being recommitted on two conditions: first, that the time which I believe has been allotted is agreed to; and secondly, that what is being agreed here will not be taken as a precedent for recommittal of clauses on Report when they have been considered in Committee. If we concede this, it is not a precedent, but only a recognition of the difficulties under which the House has been considering some of this legislation.
Earl ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord the Lord Privy Seal for that statement. I know it will give great satisfaction on this side of the House. I should like to assure the noble Lord that we should certainly not look upon this in any way as a precedent which should be quoted by any future Government, or the present Government, at any time. I may say that on the two clauses, although there are a number of Amendments which deal with other matters, the only two points that will be considered from this side of the House are those dealing with the charities and the Church properties—solely those two. The rest will be dealt with when we come back to Report stage a little later on. I can also assure the 899 noble Lord that the timetable as agreed for the final completion of this Bill will be adhered to.
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Earl, Lord St. Aldwyn. I will make sure that this is put on the Order Paper tonight.