Patents Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2)

House of Commons, 12 July 2004.

Stephen Timms (Labour, East Ham)

I beg to move,

That the programme order of 7th June 2004 in relation to the Patents Bill [Lords] be varied as follows—

Consideration and Third Reading

1. Paragraphs 4 and 5 (consideration and Third Reading) shall be omitted.

2. Proceedings on consideration and Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 1.30 p.m. on the day on which they are commenced.

The motion amends the allocation of time for proceedings on consideration and Third Reading of the Patents Bill set by the programme order of 7 June, and it is a small, technical measure that commands widespread support on both sides of the House.

In order to enable the Bill smoothly to complete its passage, time has been found this Wednesday to take the remaining stages in the House. The motion therefore deletes the relevant paragraphs of the earlier motion relating to the allocation of time for proceedings on consideration and Third Reading and makes new provision consistent with the time available on Wednesday. I hope that those arrangements will command widespread support on both sides of the House. The motion is set out on the Order Paper, and I will not rehearse its content. It curtails the allocation of time for consideration on Report and Third Reading provided by the programme order of 7 June, and it is my pleasure to commend it to the House.

Question put and agreed to.