§ 6.1 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I should like to make a Statement about the rest of this week's business. The business tomorrow, Tuesday, will now be as follows: Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Bill—Third Reading; County Courts (Penalties for Contempt) Bill [H.L.]—Committee and remaining stages; Agricultural Holdings (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill—Committee and remaining stages; Diseases of Fish Bill—Committee and remaining stages; Coroners' Juries Bill—Second Reading and remaining stages; Prohibition of Female Circumcision Bill [H.L.]—Committee.
The Business of Wednesday will be as follows: Hovercraft (Application of Enactments) (Amendment) Order 1983 and the Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations of 1983—Motions for Approval (these two orders being advanced from Thurday); Charities Bill—Second Reading and remaining stages; Solvent Abuse (Scotland) Bill—Second Reading and remaining stages (these last two Bills being the two which have just arrived from another place today); debate on Industrial Production on the Motion in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos.
The Business on Thursday will include the following items: National Heritage Bill [H.L.]—Consideration of Commons Amendments; Mobile Homes Bill [H.L.]—Consideration of Commons Amendments (these two items being advanced from Friday); Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill—Report and Third Reading: Copyright (Amendment) Bill—Second Reading and remaining stages. In addition, the House will be asked on Thursday and Friday to deal with other Bills brought or returned from the Commons. Further details will be announced tomorrow.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for so promptly making that Statement and advising your Lordships of the proposed Business for the remainder of this week. I assume that the intention will be that the House will meet on Friday at 11. o'clock as previously arranged.
§ Lord DenhamYes, my Lords. That is the case.
§ Lord WigoderMy Lords, may I say how grateful we are to the noble Lord for giving us as much notice as possible of the re-arrangement of business. I know that we shall be very happy to seek to assist in ensuring that the non-contentious matters that still remain can be put on the statute book before Parliament is prorogued. May I ask the noble Lord whether, in relation to prorogation, he is in a position to give any indication as to the timing or indeed, the manner in which it will be done?
§ Lord DenhamYes, my Lords. As I understand it, the House will adjourn in the normal way on Friday and Parliament will be dissolved by Proclamation thereafter.
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, my I ask the noble Lord the Government Chief Whip one technical 379 question? As we are meeting of Friday at 11 a.m., will the business include the Starred Questions on the Order Paper in the normal way?
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, I imagine that it will. If I am wrong, I will let the noble Lord know.