Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [H.L.] (Hansard, 2 April 2003)

§ Lord Williams of Mostyn
My Lords, I beg to move the second Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Moved, That the Commons amendments be considered in the following order:

13 to 15,

52,

4 to 12,

16 to 21,

25 to 44,

22 to 24,

45 to 47,

53,

1 to 3,

48 to 51,

54 to 57.—(Lord Williams of Mostyn.)

Lord Renton
My Lords, I have been assured that there are good reasons for the rather strange sequence that the Motion proposes, but I hope that it will not be regarded as a precedent.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, I join the noble Lord, Lord Renton, in that feeling. I was inclined to ask why. I am sure that there may be good reasons. Will people please bear in mind the life of the poor Chairman on the Woolsack when dealing with Commons amendments, quite apart from other Members of the House? There is a terrible danger that we will get ourselves into a confused state if we deal with Commons amendments in this way, based on a random method of determining numbers.

§ Lord Williams of Mostyn
My Lords, it will not be regarded as a precedent. We obviously approach these things on a case-by-case basis. I am always deeply sympathetic to the plight of the Chairman of Committees and the Deputy Chairmen, but they need not worry. This is not random; it is intellectually considered.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, will the noble and learned Lord give us the intellectual basis for it?

§ Lord Williams of Mostyn
My Lords, there are some deeply controversial amendments that need to be given full consideration. We attempted to put those on early in the business so that your Lordships could have a full opportunity to reflect, consider and vote on them if it came to that.