Climate Change Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 133: 133: Schedule 1, page 33, line 4, after ““6”” insert ““consecutive”” The noble Earl said: The amendments in this group outline various instances that should prevent someone from being a member of the committee. Amendments Nos. 133 to 136 clarify a few of the reasons why a member can be excluded and adds a few points that we hope will not find too much discord in the Committee. These amendments simply would make the committee more robust by adding a few more situations that should result in removal or exclusion. Amendment No. 133 clarifies the absence required and would change the Bill to read that a member of the committee, "““who has been absent … for … 6””," consecutive ““months or more”” can be removed. Amendment No. 134 excludes those, "““who have been convicted of a criminal offence””." The other amendments seek to clarify the words ““otherwise … unfit””. We suggest the inserting of the words ““physically or mentally”” unfit and hope that our intention of increasing the clarity of this section is welcomed. Not only does this provide clarity, but it also tightens the scope for the removal process to ensure that it is only those who are truly physically or mentally unfit who are excluded and not those who the national authorities merely deem unfit to serve. I beg to move.