Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am sure that there was not an MP in the House who was not hugely relieved when questions of MPs’ pay and expenses were given out to an independent body. Notwithstanding that, is there any way in which you can convey my concern and, I suspect, that of many other people, that two years or more in advance, it is being proposed that there should be a massive uplift in MPs’ pay, when we cannot know what the economic circumstances will be whenever such a pay increase is awarded? Why on earth does this Pandora’s box have to be opened now? Is not the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority gripped by some sort of delusional folly if it insists on opening it?
Mr Speaker
In October of this year, I will have known the hon. Gentleman for 30 years. I have always hoped that he might overcome his natural shyness and reticence, and he is making some progress on that front. He knows, and I can confirm, that his words will be recorded in Hansard. I have a suspicion that a copy of that Hansard will, by one means or t’other, wing its way to the desk of the chief executive of IPSA.
Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Have you had any representations from the Prime Minister about why, yet again, he is not making a statement following a European Council meeting? The last time, he said it was because the meeting was so boring. Given his deep disappointment with his counterparts at this meeting, it clearly was not boring, so do we have a better reason this time?
Mr Speaker
I recall the previous instance. The hon. Lady will recall that the following day, I granted a Member an urgent question to put to the Foreign Secretary because I felt that such matters most definitely did warrant an airing in the House. I have a strong hunch that the hon. Lady’s thirst for interrogation on this matter will soon be satisfied, and I feel sure that she will be in her place when it is.
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View) (Lab)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. In my haste and my desire to comply with your signals to keep my question short, I omitted to declare an indirect interest as I should have done.
Mr Speaker
That is extremely courteous of the hon. Lady. Her interest has now been asserted.
Finance Bill (Ways and Means)
Resolved,
That provision may be made about interim remedies in court proceedings relating to taxation matters.—(Mr Gauke.)
Finance Bill (Programme) (No. 2)
Ordered,
That the following provisions shall apply to the Finance Bill for the purposes of supplementing the Order of 15 April 2013 in the last Session of Parliament (Finance (No. 2) Bill (Programme)):
1. Proceedings on consideration shall be taken on the days shown in the following Table and in the order so shown.
2. Each part of the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the time specified in the second column of the Table.
First day | |
|---|---|
Proceedings | Time for conclusion of proceedings |
New Clauses and new Schedules relating to income tax rates | Two and a half hours after commencement of proceedings on the motion for this order |
New Clauses and new Schedules relating to a mansion tax | Five hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this order |
New Clauses and new Schedules standing in the name of a Minister of the Crown other than New Clause 7; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to the general anti-abuse rule | 12 midnight |
Second day | |
Proceedings | Time for conclusion of proceedings |
Remaining new Clauses standing in the name of a Minister of the Crown; amendments standing in the name of a Minister of the Crown other than amendments to Schedule 18; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to the impact, on revenue from rates and measures in the Finance Bill, resulting from the Spending Review | Two and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on consideration on the second day |
Amendments to Clause 38 and Schedule 18; remaining new Clauses, and remaining new Schedules, relating to tax measures concerning housing | Four and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on consideration on the second day |
New Clauses and new Schedules relating to the tax treatment of financial services; remaining proceedings on consideration | Six hours after the commencement of proceedings on consideration on the second day. |
3. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after the conclusion of proceedings on consideration.—(Karen Bradley.)