Business of the House

Debate between David Heath and Lord Young of Cookham

Thursday 21st June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Sir George Young]

We had Defence questions a few days ago, on Monday last week, and I do not think that the opportunity to ask Defence questions arises again until September.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons (Mr David Heath)]

On 16 July.

[Sir George Young]

In the mean time, I will ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to write to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards) to bring him up to date with the discussion to which he has just referred.

Business of the House

Debate between David Heath and Lord Young of Cookham

Thursday 1st March 2012 Commons Chamber

[Sir George Young]

Putting out a written ministerial statement is not “sneaking it out”.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons (Mr David Heath)]

Nor is answering questions in the House.

[Sir George Young]

Nor, as my hon. Friend says, is answering questions about it on the same day. There could hardly be a more open process of bringing a matter before the House.

Finally, under the Labour Administration there was an e-petitions system that ended up in Downing street and got nowhere. We have introduced a much better system, whereby if a certain threshold is reached the petitions are eligible for debate. Some of the best debates that we have had have been as a result of the e-petitions system, introduced by this Government, and we are proud of it.