House of Lords Reform (Draft Bill) Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

House of Lords Reform (Draft Bill)

Lord Dodds of Duncairn Excerpts
Tuesday 17th May 2011

(13 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Clegg Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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Clearly, a proportional electoral system, whichever one is finally settled on, would be reflective of opinion across the whole of the United Kingdom, so people across the United Kingdom can look forward to this as providing a greater reflection of opinions the length and breadth of the land.

Lord Dodds of Duncairn Portrait Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP)
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Will the Deputy Prime Minister give an undertaking that the Joint Committee that is to be set up will include representatives from the smaller parties represented in Parliament, unlike the Committee that he set up previously, which brought forward this Bill?

Nick Clegg Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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This is clearly not something for the Government to decide; it is up to the usual channels, and I know that a number of conversations have already been had. Clearly, the ambition is—or should be, at least—that the Joint Committee embraces the widest possible opinion from this House.