Mental Health Bill [ Lords ] (Second sitting)

Taiwo Owatemi Excerpts

Committee stage
Tuesday 10th June 2025 Public Bill Committees

[Stephen Kinnock]

My understanding was that we would all come back after the final vote, which was on Third Reading.

[The Lord Commissioner of His Majesty’s Treasury (Taiwo Owatemi)]

I am the only one who can move the Adjournment.

[Gregory Stafford]

That is not true. Any member of the Committee can move the Adjournment.

[Taiwo Owatemi]

We can vote on it.

[Gregory Stafford]

On a point of order, Ms Furniss. I called for a Division on the Adjournment before several members of the Committee who are now in the room came back. What is your ruling on whether members who were not here when the Division was called will be allowed to vote?

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Evans]

Further to that point of order, Ms Furniss. To follow up on what the Government Whip, the hon. Member for Coventry North West, said, when a vote was called—although I appreciate that it was not carried on the voices—a number of members of the Committee who have since returned were not present.

Ms Furniss, could you speak to the Clerk to clarify at what point the Committee divided? There was a very clear point at which the Adjournment was moved. I appreciate it is your call whether the Question was carried on the voices, but you said that it seemed to have been carried, which implies that the Committee should now adjourn. I appreciate that there are some difficulties.

[Taiwo Owatemi]

Members have 15 minutes to get back when a Division is called in the House. The 15 minutes had not elapsed when the Adjournment was moved. How can the vote be allowed to stand when the rules say that members of the Committee have 15 minutes to get back?

[Gregory Stafford]

Ms Furniss, your ruling, as I am sure Hansard will show, is that we were required to come back at 20 minutes to 6. Opposition members of the Committee were back at 20 minutes to 6, and few others were here. You did not suspend the Committee again when the House divided on Third Reading because you were not here, and therefore the 15-minute rule cannot apply.

[Taiwo Owatemi]

When the previous vote was called, I made it very clear to the Committee that we had three votes plus a vote on Third Reading.