HL Deb 16 July 1998 vol 592 cc383-4
Lord Richard

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.

There are three items of business arising before the Summer Recess on which the usual channels have agreed that more than one stage of a Bill may be taken on a day. These are, as usual, the Consolidated Fund Bill and the Finance Bill; in addition, the usual channels have agreed that the remaining stages of the Landmines Bill should be taken on Friday 24th July, the Second Reading being taken tomorrow. Rather than passing a number of Business Motions to give effect to those agreements, it was also agreed through the usual channels that a single Motion before your Lordships today would be appropriate. I commend the Motion to the House.

Moved, That Standing Order 44 (No two stages of a Bill to be taken on one day) be suspended until the House adjourns for the Summer Recess.—(Lord Richard.)

Lord Renton

My Lords, I believe that this is the longest Session of Parliament for many years, and even though it has been so long, there is not enough time to consider in detail, as we need to do, all the legislation that has been, and will be, put before the House. In future Sessions, will the Government try to ensure that the legislation suits the timescale better than has been done this time?

Lord Richard

My Lords, I am told that this is not the longest Session of Parliament. I merely repeat what I have been told; nor do I accept that the Session has necessarily been overloaded. The fact that this House is able to rise on 31st July seems to indicate proper application to the amount of work that we have had to do; and on the whole we seem to have succeeded in doing it. Returning on 5th October is not without precedent. I see that the noble Lord, Lord Denham, is not in his place. I am told that, one year, he kept the House here until 12th August and brought noble Lords back at the beginning of October. So on that basis, we are doing quite well.

On Question, Motion agreed to.

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