My Lords, before we move on to the fourth day of Committee, I will make a statement about proceedings, as I did on the previous three sitting Fridays. I hope again that this will help planning and is in line with how business has proceeded previously.
First, it is important to thank the staff of the House—those on duty today in their various roles and those who have been working in preparation for today’s proceedings. The whole House greatly values their work and we thank them for what they do.
The Government Whips’ Office has circulated the updated groupings list. As previously, my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton has set a proposed target for today’s debate. As was the case in previous weeks, I expect the House to rise at a convenient point around 3 pm. In line with usual procedures and the Companion, we maintain the typical flexibility to rise slightly before or beyond that point to include the group we are debating. As we have considered only six groups of amendments in three days of Committee, we should be looking to make considerably more progress today. Ultimately, this remains in the hands of the House and not in mine, in my role as Government Chief Whip. I expect to return to the Dispatch Box this afternoon, between 2.30 pm and 3 pm, to advise the House further.
I want to make a few other points before we again begin Committee stage of the Bill. In doing so, I fully accept that not everything I say is accepted by the whole House, but I ask noble Lords to accept that my intentions are good—it is to show the House in the best light and enable the House to deliver effective scrutiny of the important issues before us.
Many times, before this Dispatch Box as Government Chief Whip and from the Dispatch Box opposite, as Opposition Chief Whip, I have made reference to the Companion. Following its guidance is of great assistance to the House and to all noble Lords in undertaking our important work every day. I make that same point today. Following the advice of the Companion would help us all to have a better debate and proceedings today. In that light, it is important to remind ourselves that this is Committee. Noble Lords should address their remarks to the amendments under consideration and not make long, Second Reading speeches, going way beyond the substance of the amendment that is being debated. This is all set out in the Companion on page 143, 8.81.
Also, we do not accept interventions on interventions. That is not the House of Lords way. Please refrain from attempting to do this. I have asked the Government Whip on the Bench to intervene to stop this practice if it begins. If any noble Lord makes an intervention, I refer them to the Companion, specifically page 60, 4.29, which makes it clear that interventions should be a brief question of clarification only and not another speech.