Identity Cards Committee Stage - only 3 Clauses debated, no amendments
The Identity Cards Bill is crawling through its Committee Stage in the House of Commons.
During the first 4 sittings of debate this week, the Members of Parliament have only debated the amendments to the first 3 Clauses, none of which were passed.
There are another 43 Clauses and a big fat Schedule to debate, and over 150 amendments still to consider.
There are only 3 sittings of debate left due to the Programme Motion which limits the time for debate:
"(1) during proceedings on the Identity Cards Bill the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday 5th July) meet—(a) at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday 6th July;
(b) at 9.15 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 7th July;
(c) at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 12th July;
(d) at 9.15 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 14th July;
(e) at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 19th July;
(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the following order, namely, Clauses 1 to 3, Schedule 1, Clauses 4 to 45, Schedule 2, new Clauses, new Schedules, remaining proceedings on the Bill;
(3) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday 19th July."
Just as with the previous version of the Identity Cards Bill, they seem to be just going through the motions, again, and by the looks of it, will again, fail to consider the implications of all of the Clauses of the Bill.
So much for the fiction, that Parliament actually scrutnises legislation in any detail. You can almost hear the sound of the legislative rubber stamp.
For complicated legislation which will affect everyone in the United Kingdom, this level of Parliamentary scrutiny is an utter disgrace.