Ministerial Code

Debate between Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Wednesday 13th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

My Lords, the coalition agreement does indeed make the point about collective responsibility, where the two parties agreed that on certain issues they might not be able to vote together. I have two points. First, does the noble Lord not acknowledge that the coalition agreement has had no endorsement from the British public and that it is very odd for the current Government just to set aside what the Ministerial Code says, of their own volition? More specifically, can he tell the House where in that agreement there was a specific set-aside on the issue of the vote that took place a couple of weeks ago when his own party—and he as a Minister—did not support the Government?

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

The Minister did.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

Where was that explicitly set aside?

Scotland: Referendum

Debate between Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Monday 15th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords—

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

My Lords—

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

My Lords, there is a paragraph in the agreement which says that,

“the referendum should meet the highest standards of fairness, transparency and propriety”.

I have one simple little question. If, after we pass the Section 30 order, the UK Government think that the proposals do not meet the highest standards of fairness, transparency and propriety, what recourse do they have?