Animal Welfare Bill (Programme) (No. 2)

House of Commons, 14 March 2006.

Ben Bradshaw (Labour, Exeter)

I beg to move,

That the Order of 10th January 2006 (Animal Welfare Bill (Programme)) be varied as follows:

1. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Order shall be omitted.

2. Proceedings on consideration shall be taken in the order shown in the first column of the following Table.

3. The proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at the times specified in the second column of the Table.

Proceedings | Time for conclusion of proceedings

New Clause relating to the docking of dogs' tails. | Two hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order.

Remaining proceedings on consideration. | Five hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order.

4. Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion for this Order.

The change in the programme motion is intended to ensure that there is a clear opportunity to discuss all aspects of the Bill, which is particularly important when there is a need to debate fully a controversial issue. We will have free votes, which have been facilitated by Government amendments, as well as a wide range of other proposed amendments. We should remember that the Bill has already been well debated at eight Committee sittings and during pre-legislative scrutiny.

Question put and agreed to.