When they commissioned the signage referring to an agreement which was used at the St Andrews summit on 13 October.

When they commissioned the signage referring to an agreement which was used at the St Andrews summit on 13 October.

Whether the St Andrews agreement is binding in international law; and whether it has the same status as the 1998 Belfast agreement.

Whether the St Andrews agreement is binding in international law; and whether it has the same status as the 1998 Belfast agreement.

What proposals they have to ensure that the Ulster-Scots language obtains equality and parity of esteem with Irish in any arrangements resulting from the discussions at St Andrews.

What proposals they have to ensure that the Ulster-Scots language obtains equality and parity of esteem with Irish in any arrangements resulting from the discussions at St Andrews.

Whether they have the power to cap or change the rating system in the event that power is devolved to an Administration in Northern Ireland.

Whether they have the power to cap or change the rating system in the event that power is devolved to an Administration in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution issues the Advocate-General has considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution issues the Advocate-General has considered.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that an appropriate check on ministerial abuse should be established within the Standing Orders of the Regulatory Reform Committee, to the effect that it should have a clear and unambiguous duty to determine whether something is an inappropriate use of delegated legislation? Is not...

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that an appropriate check on ministerial abuse should be established within the Standing Orders of the Regulatory Reform Committee, to the effect that it should have a clear and unambiguous duty to determine whether something is an inappropriate use of delegated legislation? Is not...

I hesitate to make promises about parliamentary time. My hon. Friend will be aware that that matter is not solely under my control. I hope that he will acknowledge, however, that the approach that we have taken so far has been to consult the relevant Select Committee Chairs on these...

I hesitate to make promises about parliamentary time. My hon. Friend will be aware that that matter is not solely under my control. I hope that he will acknowledge, however, that the approach that we have taken so far has been to consult the relevant Select Committee Chairs on these...

This issue has been bubbling around during the time my hon. Friend has been dealing with the Bill and before that. For the avoidance of doubt, will he give the House a clear assurance that time will be set aside by the Government to enable us to debate the necessary...

This issue has been bubbling around during the time my hon. Friend has been dealing with the Bill and before that. For the avoidance of doubt, will he give the House a clear assurance that time will be set aside by the Government to enable us to debate the necessary...

The amendments deal with an issue that is close to the heart of many right hon. and hon. Members who debated the Bill in its earlier parliamentary stages. They fulfil our commitment, made on Second Reading in the other place, to look again at the criteria for the parliamentary Committees’...

The amendments deal with an issue that is close to the heart of many right hon. and hon. Members who debated the Bill in its earlier parliamentary stages. They fulfil our commitment, made on Second Reading in the other place, to look again at the criteria for the parliamentary Committees’...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

By leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I should like to clarify this issue for the right hon. Gentleman. The prohibition on an order reducing tax would not stop an order reducing fees, including fees charged by a regulator, for example. Lords amendment agreed to. Lords amendments Nos. 19...

By leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I should like to clarify this issue for the right hon. Gentleman. The prohibition on an order reducing tax would not stop an order reducing fees, including fees charged by a regulator, for example. Lords amendment agreed to. Lords amendments Nos. 19...

As someone who would dearly love to see some taxes abolished, I accept the normal form for doing that. Unfortunately, we have an annual Finance Bill, and it is an increasingly large Bill under this Government. It gives them ample legislative opportunity to make changes to taxes. I would like...

As someone who would dearly love to see some taxes abolished, I accept the normal form for doing that. Unfortunately, we have an annual Finance Bill, and it is an increasingly large Bill under this Government. It gives them ample legislative opportunity to make changes to taxes. I would like...

Yes, that is correct. I meant that the amendment will allow Committees of either House to exercise their veto. It is vital that we strike the right balance between the order-making powers in the Bill and effective safeguards. We hope that, by framing the veto in this way, we will...

Yes, that is correct. I meant that the amendment will allow Committees of either House to exercise their veto. It is vital that we strike the right balance between the order-making powers in the Bill and effective safeguards. We hope that, by framing the veto in this way, we will...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I really must continue. I believe that in respect of the presentation of the amendment, we have seen a downplaying, if not an ignorance, of the protections in the Bill. Let me deal with the matter of the Scotland Act 1998. It was not exempt from the 2001 Act and...

I really must continue. I believe that in respect of the presentation of the amendment, we have seen a downplaying, if not an ignorance, of the protections in the Bill. Let me deal with the matter of the Scotland Act 1998. It was not exempt from the 2001 Act and...

We mentioned the matters covered by the amendments earlier, so I shall be brief. Clause 6 restricts the powers in clauses 1 and 2. It prevents an order from imposing or increasing taxation. Concerns were raised on Report in the Commons and in Committee in the other place that, unamended,...

We mentioned the matters covered by the amendments earlier, so I shall be brief. Clause 6 restricts the powers in clauses 1 and 2. It prevents an order from imposing or increasing taxation. Concerns were raised on Report in the Commons and in Committee in the other place that, unamended,...

The hon. Gentleman has come up with a very good idea. My idea was that the House authorities might like to advise the Chair of the Committee. The Minister might be able to consider a proposition that falls between the two. If we are not to be offered anything like...

The hon. Gentleman has come up with a very good idea. My idea was that the House authorities might like to advise the Chair of the Committee. The Minister might be able to consider a proposition that falls between the two. If we are not to be offered anything like...

I will endeavour to be brief in summing up the debate on a couple of key issues. First, as the hon. Members for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) and for Cambridge (David Howarth) said, the courts can be involved even without the amendment. I acknowledged that in my opening remarks,...

I will endeavour to be brief in summing up the debate on a couple of key issues. First, as the hon. Members for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) and for Cambridge (David Howarth) said, the courts can be involved even without the amendment. I acknowledged that in my opening remarks,...

If the amendment were carried, would it still be possible under this accelerated procedure to abolish a regulator or a regulatory requirement that might include a fee or licence charge?

If the amendment were carried, would it still be possible under this accelerated procedure to abolish a regulator or a regulatory requirement that might include a fee or licence charge?