HL Deb 08 June 2000 vol 613 cc1240-2

3.31 p.m.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order paper. In so doing, as the order of consideration of clauses is somewhat unusual, I ought to say a few words about it. The reason for taking the clauses out of their numerical order in the Bill is because the Bill is largely a rewrite, with amendments, of large parts of the Gas Act and the Electricity Act. We believe that it is for the convenience of the House to be able to consider comparable topics at the same time rather than have to move around the Marshalled List, as it were. The proposal we are putting forward has been agreed through the usual channels. It is the same as the procedure adopted in another place. I beg to move.

Moved, That it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House to whom the Utilities Bill has been committed that they consider the Bill in the following order:

  • Clause 1,
  • Schedule 1,
  • Clause 2,
  • Schedule 2,
  • Clauses 4 to 9,
  • Clause 13,
  • Clause 10,
  • Clause 14,
  • Clause 11,
  • Clause 15,
  • Clause 12,
  • Clause 16,
  • Clauses 17 to 28,
  • Clause 74,
  • Clause 85,
  • Clauses 29 to 31,
  • Clause 73,
  • Clauses 32 to 39,
  • Clauses 80 to 82,
  • Clause 40,
  • Clause 84,
  • Clause 41,
  • Clàuse 86,
  • Clause 42,
  • Clause 87,
  • Clauses 43 to 50,
  • Schedule 4,
  • Clause 83,
  • Clause 51,
  • Schedule 5,
  • Clause 52,
  • Clause 88,
  • Clause 53,
  • Clause 89,
  • Clause 54,
  • Clause 90,
  • Clause 55,
  • Clause 91,
  • Clause 56,
  • Clause 92,
  • Clause 57,
  • Clause 93,
  • Clause 58,
  • Clause 94,
  • Clause 59,
  • Clause 95,
  • Clause 60,
  • Clause 96,
  • Clauses 61 to 68,
  • Clause 97,
  • Clause 69,
  • Clause 98,
  • Clauses 70 to 72,
  • Clause 101,
    • 1242
  • Clauses 75 to 79,
  • Clauses 99 and 100,
  • Clause 102,
  • Clause 3,
  • Schedule 3,
  • Clauses 103 to 105,
  • Schedules 6 to 8,
Clauses 106 and 107.—(Lord McIntosh of Haringey.)

Lord Renton

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the decisions of the usual channels have not always been fully approved by Members of your Lordships' House and that taking clauses out of their numerical order often causes confusion in the course of Committee or Report stages? Although on this occasion we shall consider carefully whether the considerable alteration is justified, the Government and the committee which considers these matters should be very reluctant indeed to change the numerical order.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My Lords, I am, of course, aware of the points that the noble Lord raises. I respect his judgment in this matter. The usual channels in this case are the relevant Front Benches who are responsible for the large majority of the amendments that are tabled. If we are wrong, the procedure will be seen to be wrong. However, it worked in another place. We believe that it will help the consideration of the Bill. I commend the Motion to the House.

On Question, Motion agreed to.