I beg to move, That the House sit in private.

Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 163).

A Division was called; Dr. Desmond Turner and Mr. Andrew Dismore were appointed Tellers for the Noes, but only one Member, John Bercow, being appointed Teller for the Ayes, the Deputy Speaker declared that the Noes had it.

Question accordingly negatived.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. Yesterday’s Order Paper stated that today’s Bill No. 3, in the name of the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), was the Employment Opportunities Bill. Today, however, that Bill seems to have disappeared. Its purpose, among other things, was to abolish the minimum wage. I find it surprising that the hon. Gentleman should have pulled his Bill at such short notice, without informing the House—particularly bearing in mind that a number of Members, including me, have prepared to speak on it. Is it not at the very least a gross discourtesy to the House to pull a Bill on that basis? Is there anything that you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, can do to try to reinstate it, so that we can have a debate on an important issue?

As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, there is absolutely nothing that I can do to reinstate that business; what hon. Members in charge of Bills do with them is entirely their affair. It is to be hoped that whatever is done is for the convenience of the House, although it might not have been on this occasion. I have the feeling that there is ample material on the Order Paper for the House to consider this morning.

Further to that point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker—this is the first time in 40 years, so it is quite a moment for me. As I know from having worked there, the practice in the Council of Europe is that if a person does not turn up for their Bill, the speech that they were going to give is delivered to the official report so that it can be printed.

As the right hon. Gentleman must know, we have not adopted that procedure in this Parliament; very strong views may be held on the subject.