HL Deb 18 December 1995 vol 567 c1467

7.2 p.m.

Brought from the Commons, endorsed with the Certificate of the Speaker that the Bill is a money Bill.

The Earl of Courtown

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.

Moved, That the Bill be now read a first time.— (The Earl of Courtown.)

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, I hope that my noble friend the Minister realises the farce in which she is taking part. The Consolidated Fund Bill is an immensely important Bill which we are inhibited from debating as a result of a very unwise decision by the Procedure Committee. When the Bill's First Reading is moved, it is just as well that the House should bear in mind that it is deprived of the very proper duty that it would otherwise have of analysing a Bill of such great importance.

On Question, Bill read a first time, and to be printed.