Intelligence Services Bill [H.L.] (Hansard, 23 May 1994)

§ The Lord Chancellor
My Lords, I beg to move that the Commons amendments be now considered.
Moved, That the Commons amendments be now considered.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

§ The Lord Chancellor
My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 1. The amendment increases the size of the committee. When the Intelligence Services Bill was considered in Committee by this House, the noble Lord, Lord Richard, moved an amendment which bears a striking resemblance to the amendment that I now propose. As I made clear when the House first considered the Intelligence Services Bill, the oversight committee is one of the Bill's keystones. The Government attach a great deal of importance to its ability to operate effectively.
The Government took careful note of the arguments advanced by noble Lords in this House and elsewhere. They understood their concern that the committee be of sufficient size to carry out its important remit and be large enough to represent fully the interests of this House. Therefore, on careful reflection, the Government decided that the size of the committee could safely and sensibly be increased to nine while still being sufficiently small to safeguard the secrecy of the information with which its members will deal. I believe that that was the right decision and one which your Lordships will welcome. I commend the amendment to the House.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 1.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

§ Lord Richard
My Lords, I apologise to the noble and learned Lord for not being present at the beginning of his speech. However, I gathered the nature of its substance. I thank the Government for making the concession which, as the noble and learned Lord knows, was one about which we were most anxious in Committee.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

§ The Lord Chancellor
My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 2. I wish to speak also to the Commons Amendment No. 4.
These amendments make a minor change to the existing provisions for the quorum of the oversight committee. Amendment No. 4 removes the requirement in Schedule 3, paragraph 2(4), for at least one member of each House to be present to make up a quorum. It was pointed out during Committee stage in the other place that this requirement might place an unfair burden on Members of one House, if they are in a minority on the committee, in terms of attendance. It might hinder the 540 ability of the committee to make up a quorum and conduct its business as necessary. Without prejudging the Prime Minister's decision in appointing the commit-tee members, the Government accepted this argument.
The provision regarding the quorum was originally drafted in keeping with the general rule that membership of the quorum of joint committees be drawn from both Houses. However, this is an unusual committee in many ways. So long as the effectiveness of the committee is not compromised, and indeed this amendment would make that less likely, I believe it is sensible for the committee to have these particular administrative arrangements, reflecting as they do its relatively small size.
We have always intended that the committee should be a joint one. But only in the quorum provision in Schedule 3 was it made explicit that the committee's membership should be drawn from both Houses. It has therefore been necessary to make Amendment No. 2 to Clause 10 to make that clear. So in a sense this is consequential on the new arrangement for the quorum. I commend the amendment to the House.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 2.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.

§ The Lord Chancellor
My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 3. This amendment removes the privilege amendment inserted by your Lordships' House in ordinary course. I beg to move.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 3.—(The Lord Chancellor.)

§ The Lord Chancellor
My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 4 for reasons which I have already indicated in the speech I made in relation to Amendment No. 2. I commend the amendment to the House.
Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 4.—[The Lord Chancellor.]
On Question, Motion agreed to.