Prostitution Reform Bill

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. I would just like to get some clarification on how wide ranging the debate will be, post the debate on the title, and whether members will get more than one opportunity to take a call. There are a number of things that need to be identified.

It is not for me to say, but of course I envisage that the debate on the title will cover all aspects of the bill, and that if members seek a second call, that will be entirely in the hands of the Chair. If there is a debate on both the title and the second part of the bill, both would be wide ranging to cover all aspects of the bill. Under the Standing Orders, and subject to the Chair, members would be entitled to up to four contributions if they wish.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): I assure the member that certainly it is the will of the Chair to make sure that everyone has his or her say—especially those people who have indicated a special interest in this issue.

Can I make one other contribution, which may well help the member and other members. I think it is highly unlikely that any member will be seeking a closure on this bill, although everyone has a right to do so. Obviously, if it went on until 2004 we may well be encouraged to put a closure at that time! I suspect that if members do have a contribution to make over the next two or three members’ days, depending on how long the debate goes for, it is unlikely that anyone will be seeking a closure. The member can rest assured there will be an opportunity to make contributions, if members wish.

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. I am seeking clarification. It may have been discussed and it may be that there is a convention on this, but I would imagine that even though it is a wide-ranging debate, there would be some advantage in taking a reasonable sequence because some of the amendments will be very confusing if they are dealt with out of sequence. I wonder whether that could be an understanding of the Committee.

Perhaps I can help the Committee with that, as well. I had thought of that. I have discussed it with the author of the bill. My suggestion is that if the Committee were of a mind to give leave to structure the debate as I have sought leave to do, then we would seek leave for the member in charge of the bill to have two or three contributions on end, to set out what the bill is, and to set out a sequence of the debate, so that members can follow the debate through in that order. Of course, given now that we are seeking to debate the title, the debate will range over that but it will be wide ranging. It seems to me that the member could give us a lead so that there is a sequence, because I think it is essential that that happens, as well.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): I ask Mr Franks whether that has addressed his point. Strictly speaking, leave is not given for that but it certainly does help if the Committee agrees to a procedure, or at least gives its tacit agreement to a procedure.

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. In your earlier remarks, and I did not quite catch them, you said that people who have indicated a special interest in this bill might get more than one call—they might get several calls. I wonder how you will determine whether anybody has a special interest, because I would like to register mine now. I am certain there are other members who have an equally concerned interest.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): I assure the member that the information I have is from the first reading and from the select committee. I do not have any other inside information.

Just to reiterate, in case Mr Brown missed it, each member has a right of up to four contributions at least. I suspect that the Committee would probably be lenient if a member felt he or she needed to make a fifth or sixth contribution. Leave would probably be granted.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): That can always be done by leave. Has everybody who wanted to speak to that point spoken? The first part of Mr Carter’s putting the leave was that the title debate be wide ranging. Is there any objection to that leave? There is not. Mr Carter then sought leave that there be a wide-ranging debate on the rest of the bill, followed by the remaining votes, and in so saying, the discussion that has gone on here in the spirit of dealing with this. Is there any objection? There is not.

I now need to seek leave for the member in charge of the bill to make two or three contributions to set out the bill and the sequence of it. Then we can debate it in that manner. I seek leave for that. [Interruption] He can have two contributions but he may need to have a third or a fourth, and I think the Committee would be sensible to grant that. I seek leave for that.

The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley): Is there any objection to that course? There is not.

Clause 1 Title