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Mr. Allan: That was a helpful response, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Motion and clause, by leave, withdrawn. Question proposed, That the Committee do report the Bill, as amended, to the House. Mr. Alexander: Before you conclude the proceedings, Mr. Benton, I would like to say a word of thanks both to yourself for your distinguished chairmanship of the Committee's deliberations and to your colleague, Sir John, who has done great service to all of us through the work that he has done. I should also like to pay tribute to the work of my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, East (Ms Prentice) and the usual channels in servicing the work of the Committee. On a personal note, I pay tribute to my officials, who have worked hard to ensure that we have, hopefully, been in a position to provide answers to hon. Members. I reserve my final note of thanks for fellow members of the Committee. Notwithstanding some of the less temperate words expressed this afternoon, we have made significant progress in a supportive environment for Ministers offering explanations that Committee members have sought. My earlier point was a serious one: the Committee might have been more exciting, but it would have been less advantageous, had we not anticipated, between the production of the draft Bill last July and the publication of the Bill we have debated today, many of the points to be raised. The pre-legislative scrutiny process, combined with the Committee proceedings, has progressed the Government's thinking, notwithstanding some of the comments that we have heard, and I am genuinely grateful for the contribution of members from all parties in the Committee for their endeavours in that regard. Mr. Heald: I join in the thanks to you, Mr. Benton, and Sir John for the very courteous, polite and firm way in which you have conducted our proceedings. It was particularly inspired to arrange for the fire alarms to go off while we were discussing forest fires, and for my hon. Friend the Member for Newark to spill water all over our papers while we were discussing flooding. I also enjoyed the references to marsupials, toothless tigers and the odd sausage and chipolata. This has been an extremely pleasant Committee, and I extend my thanks to the Minister for the courteous way that he has dealt with our attempts to amend the Bill. We do not feel that we have made much progress, but having said that I agree with the Minister about pre-legislative scrutiny. It is a very Column Number: 316 worthwhile process, which we support. We would like to see more draft Bills go through that process, but we would also like the Committee proceedings to result in a few amendments.I thank the Clerks, Mr. Healey and Mr. Patrick, for all that they have done to assist us. I also thank the police, the Badge Messengers, those recording our proceedings, and the Minister's officials who have been very kind in preparing and giving briefings to us through the Minister. Finally, I thank the Government Whip, the hon. Member for Lewisham, East, who has been a pleasure to ''usual channel'' with. Mr. Allan: I, too, thank you, Mr. Benton, Sir John and all the staff on the Committee, particularly the Minister and the Under-Secretary, who has clearly been suffering from a cold, but performed admirably given the circumstances. The Committee has been enjoyable. To finish on a note of complete concordance, I can tell hon. Members that every time I serve on a Committee considering a Bill that has been through the pre-legislative process, I am impressed by the value that is invested in that scrutiny. I would encourage the Government to go further with the process, because it gives a focus to our debates. We have been reasonably well focused over the past couple of weeks, unlike those Committees considering Bills that have not had the benefit of pre-legislative scrutiny. Again, I thank everyone who has taken part. Mr. Llwyd: May I thank you, Mr. Benton, and your co-Chairman, Sir John, for your able chairmanship? I echo what has been said about the usefulness of the pre-legislative process, and about the temperate way in which have conducted ourselves over the past few weeks. May I advise the hon. Member for Newark through you, Mr. Benton, that I have a cousin in north Wales who has a sausage factory? The Chairman: I thank all members of the Committee for the courtesy that they have extended to Sir John and me during our proceedings. It has been a pleasure to chair the Committee. I shall ensure the Committee's remarks get back to Sir John. I thank the learned Clerks, and the Hansard staff, and everyone else connected with the smooth running of the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Bill, as amended, to be reported. Committee rose at sixteen minutes past Five o'clock. Column Number: 317
The following Members attended the Committee:
Column Number: 318 Jackson, Helen Lazarowicz, Mr. Llwyd, Mr. Mactaggart, Fiona Mercer, Patrick Prentice, Ms Quinn, Lawrie Trend, Mr. Turner, Mr.
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| Prepared 10 February 2004 | |
