Oral Answers to Questions

Kevin Brennan Excerpts

Thursday 28th April 2011 Commons Chamber

The Leader of the House was asked—

[Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab)]

6. What representations he has received on the use of hand-held devices during proceedings of the House and its Committees.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons (Mr David Heath)]

I am very conscious of the fact that anything I say on this subject may be tweeted and used in evidence against me. The Leader of the House has received no representation on this matter, which is ultimately a matter for the House. The Procedure Committee has produced a sensible proposal in its report. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House wrote to the Chair of the Committee saying that we would both support a motion in the terms proposed by the Committee to be debated in Back-Bench time.

[Kevin Brennan]

I commend the report of the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr Knight) and his Committee on this matter. Would it, however, be technically possible to install a screen in the Chamber so MPs could follow a live Twitter feed during the course of our debates and therefore be able to see what people are saying about us, including our own colleagues?

[Mr Heath]

It is an intriguing thought, but I suspect there are enough distractions in the Chamber already.