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Companies Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 3)

No, we are not introducing 1,000 new amendments. [Hon. Members: ““How many?””] We are introducing six hundred and—[Hon. Members: ““The Minister does not know.””] It is not a matter of not knowing. It is a matter of looking at what those amendments seek to do. If Opposition Members wish to spend the valuable time that we have to scrutinise the Bill on a programme motion, so be it. I draw their attention to the fact that the longer we spend on the programme motion, the less time we have to discuss the meat of the Bill, which people outside would expect us to do. We are attempting to get the framework of company law right for the next generation. On that basis, and in the hope that we can save time on this part of the proceedings, I commend the programme motion to the House.