Insolvency Bill [H.L.] (Hansard, 26 March 1985)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)
My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

Lord Bruce of Donington
My Lords, this Motion relates to the Report stage of the Bill, which at the present moment is scheduled to commence on Monday next, 1st April, and to continue the next day. The purpose of my rising is to ask the noble Viscount the Leader of the House whether in the circumstances I shall describe it would be possible to postpone the Report stage for a further adequate period of time.
The Bill on Report, as amended on recommittal, became available in the Printed Paper Office only today, and already there are some 295 Government amendments in relation to it. I am well aware that many of the amendments are consequential and that some of them reflect the Government's reactions to matters that were raised in various quarters of the Chamber during the Committee stage and, indeed, at the recommittal stage. Nevertheless, there are 295 amendments. These all have to be associated with this revised Bill, and there are only two-and-a-half working days left.
Not only does the paper and scissor work take hours and hours of labour, in order that these can he traced through; there also have to be considered the amendments of Members in all parts of your Lordships' House—and this was a non-partisan measure which attracted interest right throughout your Lordships' House. Then, there should be time for Members to consider, having taken account of the Government's amendments, what further amendments they themselves wish to table. Moreover, as is very often customary with Bills of this kind, which are highly technical and which have very considerable legal problems associated with the Bench and the Bar, it is necessary to obtain outside advice. Finally, only a limited time remains after taking all these matters into account to put down amendments from other quarters of the House.
I am well aware that not only has the noble Viscount caused a letter to be sent to myself—I received it 30 875 minutes ago—explaining some of the implications, but a copy went to the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter, who I trust has received it, and to the noble Lord, Lord Taylor of Gryfe. But so far as I can trace, no communication has been sent to the Cross-Benchers despite the fact that they took a very large part in the discussions that occurred.
It is my respectful submission that, if this House is to perform the functions which it is designed to perform, and for which it is getting an increasing reputation in the country at large, the time that has been allowed following the publication of this Bill—two-and-a-half working days—is inadequate. Therefore, I ask on behalf of this side of the House, and possibly, I hope, on behalf of Members sitting in other parts of the House, that the House should reconsider its order of business for Monday and Tuesday next.

§ Lord Denham
My Lords, it really is the normal practice in this House to discuss such matters through the usual channels, and I can assure the noble Lord that such discussions will take place.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I am extremely grateful to the noble Lord the Government Chief Whip for that undertaking—that there will be discussions. But I think it is worth underlining the main point which my noble friend made; namely, that with a very large and complex Bill, as this is, it is desirable that an opportunity is given to the Opposition to consider very carefully all the implications which are involved. If I may say so—the noble Lord is fully aware of this, as indeed will be the Leader of the House—the Opposition is always at a disadvantage compared with the Government Front Bench. The Government Front Bench is, of course, fully briefed, and has all the resources of the Government behind it, whereas the Opposition, of all parties, is in a very different position. I should really like to make that point, while realising that the Government themselves have a task to perform.