Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

Nigel Evans Excerpts

Monday 13th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Straw]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Will you confirm that, as “Erskine May” makes very clear, when a Minister seeks to quote in detail from a document, it must be laid on the Table of the House?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

I understand that “Erskine May” states that, but how much detail has just been given is open to debate. I call Mr Clegg.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will acknowledge that I have merely referred in passing to a court case, which, as I said, confirms that courts will not involve themselves in internal parliamentary proceedings.

The Bill explicitly confirms that the Speaker’s certificate

“is conclusive for all purposes.”

So the decision is for the Speaker, not the courts or the Executive.