Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the first reading of the Secondary Legislation Confirmation Bill (No 2); the passing through the remaining stages of the Therapeutic Products Bill, the Fuel Industry Amendment Bill;, the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Rugby World Cup 2023 Extended Trading Hours) Amendment Bill, the Business Payment Practices Bill, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill, and the Inspector-General of Defence Bill; and the second readings of the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill, the Legal Services Amendment Bill, and the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill.

With the House soon to be out of action again for a couple of months during the election campaign, there is a need to give MPs sufficient time to consider significant legislation on the Order Paper and to ensure that legislation is enacted before the election. A common feature of many of the bills in the motion is that they bring about significant change in their sector, and a delay in their passing would mean that preparations for their implementation would be frustrated by those awaiting the changes. The Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Rugby World Cup 2023 Extended Trading Hours) Amendment Bill is a clear example. It is desirable that the licenced premises are able to open for additional hours for Rugby World Cup games, have certainty, and can make the appropriate arrangements in good time.

Urgency will cover three sitting days, so none of the legislation in the motion will progress through more stages than would have been possible in a normal sitting week. Earlier today, the Government requested that the Business Committee agree to hold oral questions at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday as normal and that the schedule of members’ days should proceed as it would have done had urgency not been moved this week. This will be the only urgency motion moved in the current sitting block.