Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Rosie Cooper Excerpts
Tuesday 10th July 2012

(12 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Harper Portrait Mr Harper
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My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was asked that question by my hon. Friend the Member for Epping Forest (Mrs Laing). He made it clear that there is no specific link between different parts of the Government’s programme. Of course, we will urge Members from both coalition parties to support the whole of the Government’s programme, as we have to date.

Rosie Cooper Portrait Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)
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4. What his policy is on the holding of a referendum on his plans for House of Lords reform.

Huw Irranca-Davies Portrait Huw Irranca-Davies (Ogmore) (Lab)
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6. What his policy is on the holding of a referendum on his plans for House of Lords reform.

Nick Clegg Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg)
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We are not persuaded by the arguments for holding a referendum on Lords reform. All three main parties committed to reform at the last election, and the views of the public are clearly and consistently in favour of introducing democratic legitimacy to the House of Lords.

Rosie Cooper Portrait Rosie Cooper
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The Deputy Prime Minister said in the House yesterday:

“Surely, it is simply time to trust the British people.”—[Official Report, 9 July 2012; Vol. 548, c. 26.]

Can you explain why you do not trust the British people to decide on the House of Lords in a referendum?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I am not going to be explaining anything, but the Deputy Prime Minister might want to try.