I move that the Second Stage be taken on Wednesday, 23rd November, 1977.
Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 1977: Order for Second Stage.
I do not understand why the Parliamentary Secretary differentiates. If it is not a precise date he might as well say Tuesday again because I would not be ready to take these two Bills next week. I want to make that quite clear.
It is a matter for arrangement between the Whips.
It could be Tuesday just as well.
One of the problems when we get an ultimatum from the Opposition spokesman is that there is a tremendous amount of business sponsored by the Minister for Finance. The work has to be done.
He has had no business at all yet. This is his first business. He has had no business since the election.
There have never been so many measures.
One of these Bills is the Value-Added Tax (Amendment) Bill and the other is the Finance (Excise Duty on Tobacco Products) Bill. There are about 30 pages in the first and ten pages in the second. I would not be ready to take these on Tuesday. It would have to be the following week at least.
I do not think either one ought to tax the Deputy's ability.
It has been customary for the last four years for co-operation to be given to the Opposition by Ministers when the Opposition were not ready to take Bills and I think the same policy should continue now.
One has to give four days notice.
Second Stage ordered for Wednesday, 23rd November, 1977.