Hon Deputy Speaker, sometimes one thinks that you are dealing with political parties, whereas you are dealing with ad hoc groups which are established from time to time when elections come. Political parties, as they are properly called, would know that sufficient consensus is what produced this Constitution.
The hon Minister correctly said that there is sufficient consensus in this House. On that basis therefore, I'm proud to move:
That the House -
1) notes that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection of Information Bill had ceased to exist after it completed its task and reported on the Protection of State Information Bill on 13 September 2011;
2) further notes the decision of the Acting Speaker to recommit the Bill, together with the proposed amendments, to the committee which had considered it originally;
3) re-establishes the Ad Hoc Committee on Protection of Information Bill with the same composition, membership, chairperson and powers;
4) instructs the committee to take into account the earlier work done by, and the proceedings of, the committee, when considering the Bill in terms of Rule 255; and
5) sets the deadline by which the committee must report at 21 November 2011.
Well done, hon Minister and committee members. [Applause.] Agreed to.
Bill recommitted to the Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection of Information Bill.