Criminal Defence Service Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2)

Hon. Members will be pleased to hear that I will keep my comments short. There are long-standing principles with regard to guillotining debate in this House. As the Committee on the Bill was amicable, I am surprised that the Government have moved this unhelpful and unfortunate motion. There was cross-party consensus in Committee and on the Floor of the House today, with the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) foremost among those indicating surprise that the motion was tabled. My right hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) rightly and eloquently pointed out that this is an important Bill containing important elements of public expenditure. Therefore, it is incumbent on all hon. Members to come along on behalf of their constituents, whose taxes will be taken as a result of changes in the Bill, and to be accountable. We need to hear the Minister respond at length to the debate and we need an opportunity to look at the details fully and frankly. Too many programme motions are being tabled and there is too much curbing of debate. We often hear that this House is no longer taken seriously and, regrettably, I often think that the Government are setting a bad example to new Members like myself. At a later point, I would like to compliment the Government for noting this debate, reading Hansard and changing their mind on tabling so many programme motions. This place is the better for rigorous debate and it is better served by robust debate. That is what this Chamber is for.