Finance Bill (Ways and Means)

Ways and Means resolution
Monday 5th February 2024 Commons Chamber

Motion made, and Question proposed,

That provision may be made for the electricity generator levy not to apply to new generating plant.—(Nigel Huddleston.)

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Sir Roger Gale)]

I call the SNP spokesperson.

17:22

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP)]

I rise to speak about the procedure being used here. This motion is very odd and worryingly symptomatic of a Government avoiding their responsibilities to this House, given that they could have tabled an amendment of the law resolution, which would have allowed them to add their new clause to the debate today, without this unique use of Standing Orders. This resolution has prevented Members from tabling any new clauses or amendments relating to the subject, because there is no time between the end of the debate and the beginning of the next one to table any relevant motions, as I would have liked to have done, for example, on the highland energy rebate for people living among generating equipment, both planned and existing. I sincerely hope that this unique use of Standing Orders does not become standard, as any future legislation based on a Ways and Means resolution can be unilaterally changed with almost no notice and no opportunity for this House to table related amendments.

Question put and agreed to.