Pairing Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office
Monday 23rd July 2018

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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It is certainly right that we review things in the light of changing technology and changing circumstances, and that is what the Leader of the House wishes to do.

Gareth Johnson Portrait Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)
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May I ask my right hon. Friend to be cautious about allowing this matter to take the House down the route of proxy voting, which has huge downsides? Quite often, we are asked to consider serious matters in this House, where the debate affects the way people vote because it changes their mind. The solution is surely to improve the pairing system, rather than to ditch it completely.

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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My hon. Friend’s question illustrates why it is important that we have the general debate and seek to obtain as wide a consensus as possible.