Arrangement of Business

My Lords, shall we make a start? The Committee will be aware of what might take place in the Chamber; if it does, a Division Bell will ring and we will all scamper off, do our voting and come back. Before we begin debate on the Bill, I understand that the Whip would like to make a few remarks.

As usual, I want to make a couple of remarks, as I have done over the last five sessions. I remind noble Lords that they should declare any relevant financial interest the first time they speak at each stage of the Bill. This means that, in Committee, relevant financial interests should be declared during the first group in which a noble Lord contributes. The declaration does not need to be repeated in debate on later groups at this stage, and it should be specific and brief. Members should briefly indicate the nature of their financial interest, not simply refer to their entry in the Register of Lords’ Interests. I also remind the Committee again of guidance in the Companion at paragraph 8.82 that, when withdrawing amendments, noble Lords should “be brief and need not respond to all the points made during the debate, nor revisit points made when moving the amendment”. This applies to all Members of the House, including the Front Benches. A number of contributions last week were lengthy and I encourage all participants to keep their remarks shorter, in the spirit of the guidance.