Business without Debate

Maria Eagle Excerpts

Friday 3rd February 2023 Commons Chamber

[Hon. Members]

Object.

Bill to be read a Second time on Friday 24 February.

[Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. We have seen five Bills proceed today. The Public Advocate (No. 2) Bill has been introduced repeatedly to Parliament since 2015, and today’s objection from the Government is their 12th in the last two years, despite a proposal for a public advocate being in their own 2017 manifesto. With Bishop James Jones’s 2017 report on the lessons to be learned from Hillsborough and its proposals for legislative change yet even to receive a Government response, can you please advise me on how I can convince my constituents, the families of the 97 unlawfully killed and survivors of that terrible day at Hillsborough that our Government care about righting the terrible wrongs that they have suffered over the last 34 years and ensuring that the lessons of that terrible day are truly learned?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Sir Roger Gale)]

The whole House has enormous sympathy with those who suffered at Hillsborough, but the hon. Lady has been here long enough to know that she cannot use this process or a point of order to prolong the debate here today. It is not a matter for the Chair. If she wishes to pursue the matter further, she may wish to raise it with Mr Speaker, who I am sure will listen sympathetically. The Minister is indeed in his place, but he is not in a position to prolong the debate, either. I simply cannot permit it. That does not mean that the House does not have sympathy with her cause.