Business of the House

Lord Lansley Excerpts

Monday 17th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

I beg to move,

That at the sitting on Tuesday 18 March:

(1) proceedings on the motion in the name of the Prime Minister relating to Ukraine may continue for three hours and shall then lapse if not previously disposed of; and

(2) notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 16 (Proceedings under an Act or on European Union documents), the Speaker shall put the Questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on the motions in the name of Secretary Eric Pickles relating to Local Government not later than three hours after the commencement of proceedings on the first such motion; proceedings on those motions may continue, though opposed, after the moment of interruption; and Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply.

Last Thursday, during the business statement, I announced three items of business for consideration tomorrow, Tuesday 18 March. They are a general debate on Ukraine, the consideration of motions to approve statutory instruments on combined authority orders and the consideration of a motion on three EU proposals on criminal justice. The business motion before the House will control those proceedings.

The effect of passing the motion will be to allow three hours for the debate on Ukraine. It is an important debate and I am pleased that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will update the House during the opening of the debate before appearing before the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs tomorrow afternoon. The House has been kept up to date with statements, but it is important that there is also a debate so that we can hear from Members. I have provided Government time for that and we will continue to keep the situation of how the House is kept informed and can discuss such important issues under review.

The motion also allows for statutory instruments relating to combined authority orders to be considered for up to three hours. They are important orders that affect a large number of members and their constituents. I hope that the House agrees that it would be for the convenience of members for them to be debated together on the Floor of the House. If the motion is not passed tonight, those four motions would be taken separately for up to 90 minutes each. I do not think that that is a sensible way to proceed.

We will also debate a motion on three EU proposals on criminal justice for up to 90 minutes, as provided for under Standing Order No. 16. That business is therefore not directly covered by tonight’s motion as it is already governed by Standing Orders.

I commend the motion to the House.

Question put and agreed to.