Mr.
Reid: Further to that point of order,Mr.
Atkinson. I thank you and your co-Chairman,Mr. Taylor, for
conducting us efficiently through the Bill. I thank also all the staff
who have assisted us and made the debate
possible.
Sammy
Wilson: Further to that point of order,Mr.
Atkinson. I, too, on behalf of my group, who have been markedly absent
today—they have deserted me—thank you for the expert way
in which you have guided the Committee and for the last-minute
incentive you gave us to rush through the final parts of the Bill. I
thank also the Clerks and other staff who have steered the Committee
through our
proceedings.
Lady
Hermon: Further to that point of order,Mr.
Atkinson. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to your kind
chairmanship this afternoon, and to that of your co-Chairman, Mr. David
Taylor, this morning. I must single out for comment the Whip, the hon.
Member for Gedling. He happens to be in the Government party, but as an
Opposition Member, I note that he has been very kind to all members of
the Committee and has been receptive to the odd text message from the
hon. Member for North Down, asking him why I have not been notified of
certain matters. He always tries to keep us very well informed, and I
single him out for
thanks. I commend also
Hansard and the other officials. I commend Hansard for
its speed, because when asked in a note in a brown envelope to submit
the Secretary of State’s quotation from September, I did so, and
when,
within minutes, I needed it back, it had already gone. I commend
Hansard staff for their efficiency and speed, and I look forward
to reading what the hon. Member for East Antrim said in his long
contribution on electricity. I am sure that I will understand it better
on a second
reading. Dr.
McDonnell: Further to that point of order,Mr.
Atkinson. I add my thanks and appreciation to all involved. However,
perhaps the best way of showing that to staff would be to shut up and
let them out of here. I add my thanks to you personally, Mr. Atkinson,
because I am relatively new—I have less than a year under my
belt—and I have appreciated your understanding and flexibility
towards me as I am not quite up to speed with
procedure.
The
Chairman: I thank the Committee for being so co-operative
with my co-Chairman and me. I am sure that we are all delighted not to
have to come back at 10.30 on Tuesday
morning. Question
put and agreed
to. Bill, as
amended, to be
reported. Committee
rose at twenty-four minutes past Six
o’clock.
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