Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Wilson of Sedgefield) (Lab)

My Lords, we have a large number of groups to get through today to complete Committee. I remind noble Lords of some important points of guidance in the Companion that might help us with that aim. Paragraph 8.81 on speeches at amending stages on Bills states that: “Members taking part in debate at an amending stage should not use their speech simply to summarise or repeat at length points made by others. They should not make ‘second reading’ speeches or make discursive interventions which are not relevant to the amendment(s) under discussion”. While there have been many important contributions from all sides of the House, parts of our debates on previous days have strayed into Second Reading speeches and away from the amendments being debated. To make progress on the remaining groups, I therefore ask all noble Lords to ensure that their remarks on further amendments are relevant to the topic under discussion and brief. Paragraph 8.82 on custom when withdrawing an amendment states that: “Members (other than the Minister) pressing or withdrawing an amendment should normally be brief and need not respond to all the points made during the debate, nor revisit points made when moving the amendment”. While many noble Lords have adhered to this, at times long speeches have been made when withdrawing amendments. I urge all noble Lords to keep remarks brief to keep us on track. The Ministers responding will continue to keep speeches as confined as possible while providing a proper response to questions raised in the debate. Clause 55: Environmental features, environmental impacts and conservation measures Amendment 242B