Private Members’ Bills Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Private Members’ Bills

Ian C. Lucas Excerpts
Tuesday 25th October 2016

(8 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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My hon. Friend makes a very telling point.

Ian C. Lucas Portrait Ian C. Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)
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Is not the real reason there is a bankruptcy of confidence in the private Members’ Bill system that the Government can always kill a Bill by using methods that are sometimes hidden and sometimes open? We need a shaft of sunlight on this system so that we can restore some confidence. Let us have a debate on it.

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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The convention for many years, under successive Governments, has been that the Government make their view on private Members’ Bills plain during the course of a Second Reading debate. I return to the point that a private Member’s Bill that enjoys genuine majority support within the House has a decent chance of success.