§ 2.57 p.m.
Viscount LongMy Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House to know that over 60 noble Lords have so far expressed a wish to speak at the Second Reading of the Education Reform Bill, and in view of this it has been agreed through the usual channels to spread the debate over two days; namely, Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th April.
The Third Reading of the Regional Development Grants (Termination) Bill will be deferred to the first business on Thursday 21st April. The Third Reading of the Employment Bill will be deferred to the first business on Monday 25th April.
With the leave of the House, I should like to say a few words on the conduct of the debate on the Second 978 Reading of the Education Reform Bill. It is proposed to treat the two days as a single debate with winding-up speeches at the end of proceedings on Tuesday only. Some noble Lords had expressed the hope that it might have been possible to debate the schools provisions on one day and higher education on another, but it has been agreed through the usual channels that such a division of a Second Reading debate would be impracticable in that it would deprive noble Lords of speaking on both parts of the Bill. I am sure that your Lordships will agree that this decision was the right one.
I should also like to take advantage of this opportunity to remind noble Lords that in order to be consistent with the normal conventions and courtesies of the House, speakers taking part in the debate should be present for both the opening and winding-up speeches. Therefore noble Lords who propose to speak should make sure that, save in the most exceptional circumstances, they can be present on both days of the debate. The list of speakers will close at 11 a.m. on Monday, 18th April (the first day) and the order of speakers will be drawn up by the Whips' Office in the usual way for both days of the debate.
Turning to today's business, it may be for the convenience of the House if I announce that, subject to the progress of business, the Report stage of the Immigration Bill may be adjourned at approximately 7.30 p.m. for approximately one hour and that during this adjournment the Town and Country Planning (Compensation for Restrictions on Mineral Working) (Amendment) Regulations 1988, the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 and the Minors' Contracts (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 will be taken.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount, Lord Long, for making that statement on behalf of the Chief Whip. Perhaps I may thank him for so readily agreeing to representations from all parts of the House that there should be a second day's debate for the Second Reading of the Education Reform Bill.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, I also thank the noble Viscount for the decision to make it a two day debate. It is by popular demand. I am glad that the government business managers have seen their way to provide for this.
The only other comment I should like to make is on the agreement through the usual channels that a division between schools provisions on the first day and higher education provisions on the second day may be impracticable. I accept that it is impracticable to do that in any formal sense. I believe that it is still possible in an informal sense. Noble Lords may wish to cast their speeches in that way.
Viscount LongMy Lords, I am most grateful to both noble Lords for their kind remarks about the procedure for debate on the Education Reform Bill. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Tordoff, and the House will understand sympathetically how these arrangements have been made during the past few days.