Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Patrick Grady Excerpts
Thursday 14th January 2016

(8 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I know my hon. Friend feels very strongly about this issue, and I would simply assure him that if any proposals are brought forward, the House will be properly informed and all appropriate information will be provided.

Patrick Grady Portrait Patrick Grady (Glasgow North) (SNP)
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After the Legislative Grand Committee on Tuesday, there were some rather forlorn-looking Clerks in the Division Lobbies packing away iPads that had not been used, having been specially set up to record English votes for English laws. Given that these tablet devices have been paid for and exist, why not put them to use to record all Divisions in the House as the first step towards a 21st-century system of electronic voting?

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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I think that is the intention. The House of Lords is already using iPads to record Divisions, and it seems to me entirely logical that we should do the same. The system is now in place for the double majority votes, and it is my hope and expectation that we will move to general recording in the very near future. There is no reason not to do that.