Oral Answers to Questions

John Robertson Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2015 Commons Chamber

The right hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, was asked—

[John Robertson (Glasgow North West) (Lab)]

3. What estimate he has made of savings that could be achieved through sharing more services with the House of Lords.

[John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)]

There has been no overall assessment of the potential financial savings from increased joint working with the House of Lords. Subject to what is said later today in the debate on the report by the House of Commons Governance Committee, the Commission expects to write to the Lords House Committee shortly to propose an initial joint meeting later this year. I would not be surprised if the issues raised in the Governance Committee’s report about greater bicameral working were on the agenda for that meeting.

[John Robertson]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman, and he will know that there is wide support for that in the Governance Committee. Members would like to see such work go forward as quickly as possible. The trouble with this place and the other place is that things can be dragged out for some time, so will he ensure that we can move down the road a lot quicker than usual?

[John Thurso]

As the hon. Gentleman will know, both Houses are sovereign, so we must make progress through dialogue and agreement. However, I am much encouraged by how the joint service for procurement was set up last year, and I believe that there is an appetite in both Houses to reach agreement. I will certainly do all I can to assist in that.