Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, whether the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill will (a) return to Parliament before the end of the 2022-23 Session or (b) be carried over into Session 2023-24.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and we continue to strengthen these even further. Since 2010 we have:
We recognise the strong support for getting provisions in the Kept Animals Bill onto the statute book and we are fully committed to delivering our manifesto commitments on animal welfare. All future business will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 October 2017, HCWS199 on Opposition Day Debates, if she will adopt the approach taken by her predecessor that when a motion tabled by an Opposition party has been approved by the House, the relevant Minister will respond to the resolution of the House by making a statement no more than 12 weeks after the debate.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
It is vital that the Government sets out its position on matters and this is usually done during the debate, in particular in the Minister’s closing remarks that respond to the points that have been raised. The Government will always listen carefully to the views of the House and will continue to make regular oral or written statements to announce policy developments, provide updates and respond to events.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to her oral contribution of 23 February, Official Report column 329, if she will review the procedures for scrutiny of delegated legislation in this House.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Government is fully committed to a strong parliament that effectively scrutinises legislation. However, the procedures and processes of the House, including those for the scrutiny of legislation, are ultimately a matter for the House and any change should be carefully considered, often following the recommendations of the Procedure Committee. Should the Procedure Committee choose to look further at the scrutiny process for delegated legislation, the Government will of course consider any recommendations carefully.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Written Statement of 26 October 2017, HCWS199 on Opposition Day Debates and the Answer of 1 November 2017 to Question 110093, whether the Government remains committed to that convention to respond to the resolution of the House by making a statement no more than 12 weeks after the debate.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
I refer the hon. gentleman to my response during business questions on 28 January (Official Report, col. 570). It is vital that the Government sets out its position on motions tabled by the opposition. In my view that is best done during the debate, in particular in the Minister’s closing remarks that respond to the points that have been raised. The Government will always listen carefully to the views of the House and will continue to make regular oral or written statements to announce policy developments, provide updates and respond to events.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, whether he plans to bring forward provisions to enable hon. Members who are required by law to self-isolate under NHS test and trace procedures to participate in substantive proceedings of the House by virtual means.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
We have ensured that people who cannot be here for a range of reasons can vote by proxy and participate in interrogative proceedings. The Government has brought forward a motion to allow additional virtual participation for debates in the Chamber for any member who has been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable. The change is in line with the Government advice to the whole country that the clinically extremely vulnerable should currently not go into work.
I will continue to engage with Members on how we best strike the balance between facilitating virtual participation and allowing scrutiny and legislation to continue. As I have always said, we continue to keep this matter under review.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward proposals to enable the Petitions Committee to schedule debates based on petitions created on websites other than the UK Parliament e-petition website.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The Government acknowledges the important role that petitions and debates on petitions play in allowing people to scrutinise the government on their own terms. The e-petitions website is jointly owned by Parliament and Government but is overseen by the House of Commons Petitions Committee. It is for the Petitions Committee to bring forward petitions for debate under Standing Order No. 10 (1)(a) and Standing Order No. 145A.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, whether she plans to make arrangements for the House of Commons to sit on (a) the day or (b) the day after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are currently no plans for the House to sit on either the 29 or 30 March. Any changes to the sitting hours of the House would need to be agreed by the House in the usual way.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, if she will publish a response to EDM 1967 entitled, Parliamentary Prayers.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The provision of Parliamentary Prayers is a matter for the House. However, many Members of all faiths appreciate the opportunity for quiet reflection before making important decisions during debates and the course of the Parliamentary day. Over recent years Parliament has made many inclusive reforms, including the creation of a multi-faith prayer room.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, under what circumstances Right Honourable Members of the House would be (a) invited and (b) entitled to attend a meeting of the Privy Council.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are currently some 680 members of the Privy Council, but only ministers of the current Government attend scheduled meetings of Her Majesty’s Privy Council, and are notified or invited on a meeting by meeting basis. I attend each Privy Council meeting in my capacity of Lord President of the Council, together with a quorum of three further Government ministers. The quorum are invited on a rota basis, dependent on availability.
There are, however, two occasions when the whole of the Privy Council is invited to attend a meeting; the announcement of the intention of a reigning Sovereign to marry; and, the Accession Council. The Privy Council Office has detailed procedures in place for contacting all Privy Counsellors in this event.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what procedures are in place for notifying Rt hon Members of when meetings of the Privy Council are scheduled.
Answered by Andrea Leadsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Privy Counsellors are notified of scheduled meetings by invitation to attend. Details of Privy Council meetings, together with the list of attendees, is published after each meeting on the Privy Council Website, https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/privy-council-meetings/.