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Finance Bill

It seems rather extraordinary for the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) to criticise the Government for their brazen disregard of Parliament in short-circuiting debate on the Bill, when it is of course the two main parties that decide the timetable and agree which measures will remain in the Bills discussed during this wash-up period, after the general election has been called. People will wonder how far they can trust what they hear in the election, so comments of that nature are not a great start. The reality of how business is conducted and timetabled here means that the Conservative and Labour parties have every opportunity to decide such matters. Other parties do not get the same privilege, so it is a mistake to make comments that so mislead people.