Oral Answers to Questions

Fiona Mactaggart Excerpts

Tuesday 10th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Harper]

I very much agree with my right hon. Friend. Later today, I will have the opportunity to set out my views at greater length, which I hope the House will find interesting.

[Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)]

3. What progress he expects to make on reform of the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Mark Harper)]

On the very subject that we were just discussing, the House will this afternoon conclude day two of the debate on the House of Lords Reform Bill. I look forward to the House supporting our Bill, which builds on a lot of the work that was done by the Labour party. We heard some good speeches from Labour Members yesterday, including the right hon. Members for Neath (Mr Hain) and for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson), in support of the Bill.

[Fiona Mactaggart]

If, as looks possible, the programme motion is defeated tonight, will the Minister promise the House that he will move an allocation of time or committal motion before the recess?

[Mr Harper]

If the hon. Lady is committed to reform, which I believe from her record she is, I hope that she will support all the motions relating to the Bill on the Order Paper so that we can make progress—something that the Labour party never managed, despite the good work that it did, in all the years that it was in office.