Amendment of Standing Orders

Debate between John Hemming and James Gray

Monday 2nd December 2013 Commons Chamber

[John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD)]

I am in the unusual position of having divided loyalties, being a member of the Procedure Committee and of the Backbench Business Committee. In this instance, however, I support the Procedure Committee, because I wish to see more power for Parliament and less for the Executive.

I do not think that the question of the number of days per year is a massive issue of principle. If a Parliament were to have a forced caesarean, which none of us would want to see, rather than its normal gestation period, a reduction in the number of days would not be a big issue. It is entirely reasonable to have a system in Standing Orders that means that if Parliament goes on for a longer period, there is no need to come to say, “We need more time” and it is automatically delivered. That is a fair way of working. It is not a big issue of principle.

The second matter involves more of an issue of principle. The point is simple: why do only the Executive have the power to timetable Parliament and Parliament cannot timetable itself? Let us consider the changes that have happened since the Wright report. The first change meant that the Backbench Business Committee was accountable not to Parliament as a whole, but to the political groups—again, that increased the power of the Executive. Our proposal is to give the Backbench Business Committee a power—if it does not work, it does not have to be used—that is currently held only by the Executive. That is an important step forward, and it would give Parliament a power that it currently does not have.

[Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire) (Con)]

I am listening carefully to what the hon. Gentleman is saying. Is he not struck by the argument put forward by the hon. Member for North East Derbyshire (Natascha Engel) a moment ago—if there is a timetable and a time by which the debate must end, that will become not the terminus ad quem, but something towards which we work? We will fill the time up to that point. She made a particularly good point.

[John Hemming]

The hon. Lady made a good point if we exercise the power. The idea is not that every debate should be timetabled; it is that the Committee should have this power. Her argument was that perhaps that power might be needed in the future, but we could give the Committee that power to use if it sees fit. Instead she recommends that the discretion should not be there. In the interests of democracy and of increasing the power of the representatives of the people—Parliament—and reducing the power of the Executive, that power should be given to the Committee and not just limited to the Executive.

Local High Streets

Debate between John Hemming and James Gray

Tuesday 21st December 2010 Westminster Hall

[John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley) (LD)]

I ask for your guidance, Mr Gray. Are we aiming for 10.30 am for the Front Benchers?

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

I think 10.40 am, probably.

[John Hemming]

So there are 10 minutes each.

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

I want as many hon. Members as possible to contribute.

[John Hemming]

We have four wanting to speak, so that would be about eight minutes.

[Mr James Gray (in the Chair)]

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but I think I can work that out for myself. Perhaps he would like to get on with his speech.