Counter-Terrorism Bill (Programme) (No. 2)

I am grateful for that intervention. My right hon. Friend puts it far better than I could. We had an example only a week or so ago, when the ““Yes Minister”” Bill was given unlimited debate. It took two hours and 44 minutes, leaving three hours of this Chamber's time unused. If a Bill is not controversial, we are given for ever to debate it, but on a controversial Bill—such as this one, or the one on the Lisbon treaty—our time is curtailed. If the Government must impose a programme motion, why do they not give us set hours? If there were statements tomorrow, we could at least proceed for that set number of hours, rather than finish at the moment of interruption.