§ 2.53 p.m.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Waddington)My 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 Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Bill to be taken through its remaining stages on Thursday 28th February.—(Lord Waddington.)
§ Lord Stoddart of SwindonMy Lords, unfortunately, I was unable to be present in your Lordships' House to hear all the discussions on the Bill yesterday. However, I have read Hansard and noticed that my noble friend Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe made a contribution. He said:
I merely ask the noble Lord to confirm in his reply that there will be adequate time for discussion during the later stages of the Bill's proceedings".—[Official Report, 26/2/91; col. 878.]The noble Lord the Leader of the House said: 975I can promise the noble Lord, Lord Cocks, that there will be ample time for discussion of these matters about which he is concerned. With those few words, I commend the Bill to the House".—[Official Report, 26/2/91; col. 880.]It appears to me that adequate time has not been given. If noble Lords wish to propose amendments to the Bill they will hardly have had sufficient time to frame and table them. The Second Reading was only yesterday and we are to have the Committee stage and remaining stages tomorrow. I wish to hear the comments of the noble Lord the Leader of the House about that matter.
§ Lord WaddingtonMy Lords, there is nothing unusual in the Motion. It has been agreed through the usual channels. I have had an opportunity to speak to the noble Lord, Lord Cocks. He is satisfied that he will have ample opportunity to raise a particular issue, even under these procedures.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.