webofevil | (no subject)

In Committee, the Minister moves the final government amendment to the Flood Water Management Bill. In a clause that specifies which sections of the act will come into force, the government are adding a couple more, so the amendment reads:
Clause 49, page 33, line 10, after “43” insert “to 45”
Lord Taylor, on the Conservative front bench, is normally pretty straightforward on such topics but, perhaps affected by the end-of-term spirit, his response is uncharacteristically Selsdonesque. In full:

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I thank the Minister for ending on such a positive note. The number 43 is rather unusual—it is a prime number whose digits when added together also come to a prime number, but a rather boring one. The number 45 is much more interesting and useful, and I am very happy that the Minister has proposed such a change.