§ 3.5 p.m.
§ Viscount WhitelawMy Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ Moved, That Standing Order 44 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be dispensed with to enable the European Communities (Finance) Bill to be taken through its remaining stages this day.—(Viscount Whitelaw.)
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, may I ask the noble Viscount the Leader of the House why he needs to press this Motion so that there is no chance for debate after Second Reading on the Bill? Can he say at the same time how it comes about that the Bill has been declared a money Bill when it would appear, from reading it, to be a Bill changing a treaty? Is he satisfied that this is indeed purely a finance Bill rather than a Bill which affects a treaty that we have signed and which asks for a change in that treaty? If it is the latter, then should this House not be enabled both to debate the Second Reading and if necessary divide on the Bill, and to go through the normal procedure of Committee, Report and Third Reading stages?
§ Viscount WhitelawMy Lords, as the noble Lord I think implied, this Bill has been certified by Mr. Speaker in another place as a money Bill, and it is quite usual to take all stages of such Bills on one day. This arrangement has been agreed through the usual channels. I do not think that any controversy is basically expected, although there may be arguments, naturally, durings its consideration. But it is, I believe, a reasonable procedure that has been followed frequently in the past. I hope that the noble Lord will agree to it.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.