Scotland Bill

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts

Tuesday 1st December 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Dunlop]

That it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole House to which the Scotland Bill has been committed that they consider the bill in the following order:

Clauses 1 to 12, Clauses 34 to 41, Schedule 2, Clauses 42 to 64, Clauses 13 to 18, Schedule 1, Clauses 19 to 33, Clauses 65 to 70, Title.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, I thank the Minister for agreeing to take Parts 1 and 2 of the Bill at the end, but could he give us an assurance that we will have the fiscal framework by the time we get to Parts 1 and 2, as recommend by both the Economic Affairs Committee and the Constitution Committee of this House?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scotland Office (Lord Dunlop) (Con)]

I know that this is a matter of great importance to my noble friend and the whole House. We debated the fiscal framework very fully at Second Reading, and there is nothing further that I can add. However, I can confirm that the relevant parts of the Bill will not be taken in Committee until after the new year, and that gives us space to make progress with the fiscal framework negotiations.