§ 3.32 p.m.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, at a convenient moment after 3.30 this afternoon my noble friend Lord Davidson will, with the leave of the House, repeat a Statement that is to to be made in another place on the Piper Alpha rig. This will be followed by my noble friend, Lord Caithness, who will, again with the leave of the House, repeat a Statement on local government finance.
It may be for the convenience of the House if I announce that the proceedings on the Third Reading of the Education Reform Bill will be adjourned at approximately 7 p.m. for approximately one hour and that during this adjournment the Agriculture Improvement (Variation) Scheme 1988 and the Agriculture Improvement (Amendment) Regulations 1988 will be taken.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, I should like to thank the Chief Whip for making that statement. It is the normal custom for your Lordships to rise at around 11 p.m. on a Thursday. I am sure that all noble Lords will use their best edeavours to complete the final stages of the Education Reform Bill by that time.
However, if that does not happen, what does the Government Chief Whip intend to do concerning the remaining stages of the Bill? I ask this in view of the concern expressed to me by various noble Lords on their own behalf and on behalf of members of staff from all sections of the House because of the uncertainty and their not knowing whether the House will sit into the early hours of the morning or whether tomorrow's sitting will be cancelled.
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, I am most grateful to the Opposition Chief Whip for making that point, which must be very much in all our minds. I echo his appeal to the House, which I am sure will be listened to, that noble Lords will carry through the Third Reading and the amendments as expeditiously as possible.
I think it would be wrong to make any firm arrangements of any other kind at this moment. We 398 must bear in mind that under the Standing Orders of the House it is noted that:
The principal purposes of amendments on Third Reading are to clarify any remaining uncertainties, to improve the drafting and to enable the Government to fulfil undertakings given at earlier stages of the Bill.I am sure that given goodwill we can make good progress on this. We must all have very much in mind the noble Lord, Lord Kearton, who has a Motion on the European Communities Committee down for tomorrow. I know that the noble Baroness, Lady Serota, is very much exercised about this because it comes very much within her purview. I suggest to the Opposition Chief Whip that the usual channels should keep in touch throughout the day. If our joint hopes appear not likely to be fulfilled, perhaps we may have consultation through the usual channels as to what should be done.
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, perhaps I may ask the Chief Whip a further question on the same subject. What is the Government's intention as regards the Motion, That the Bill do now pass?
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, as regards the debate, if amendments are put down to a Bill at Third Reading, the Third Reading is taken formally. Then the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor or the noble Lord on the Woolsack will call the various amendments. Any debate that takes place will take place on the Motion, That the Bill do now pass. This is an inherent part of the Third Reading stage of the Bill.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, I think the question of my noble friend, Lord Hatch of Lusby, was directed at the undoubted fact that there will be a debate on the Motion, That the Bill do now pass. Might it be advisable at this point to say that that debate will take place tomorrow and not today?
§ Lord DenhamMy Lords, if I may say so, I know that the noble Lord has the best interests of the House at heart. Because the Third Reading stage has its very special characteristics, as I read from the Companion to the Standing Orders, to allow for rather more time than may be needed by shifting the Third Reading debate might be a little pessimistic at this stage. It could lead to more being made of the Third Reading than your Lordships have been accustomed to expect.