Delegated Legislation

John Bercow Excerpts

Wednesday 5th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

With the leave of the House, which is in a state of animation at the prospect of being able to depart, I propose taking motions 3 to 5 together.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6)),

Exiting the European Union (Consumer Protection)

That the draft Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, which were laid before this House on 29 October, be approved.

Exiting the European Union (Financial Services)

That the draft Central Securities Depositories (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, which were laid before this House on 31 October, be approved.

Exiting the European Union (Financial Services and Markets)

That the draft Trade Repositories (Amendment and Transitional Provision) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018, which were laid before this House on 6 November, be approved.—(Jeremy Quin.)

Question agreed to.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 118(6) and Order, 26 November),

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that Her Majesty will appoint Richard Lloyd to the office of ordinary member of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority for a period of five years with effect from 1 December 2018. —(Jeremy Quin.)

The Speaker’s opinion as to the decision of the Question being challenged, the Division was deferred until Wednesday 12 December (Standing Order No. 41A).

[Vernon Coaker (Gedling) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that Privy Counsellors are to have a briefing on the implications of the deal under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. If the potential impact of no deal with respect to civil contingencies is regarded as important enough for Privy Counsellors to have a briefing about it, what will we do to ensure that Parliament hears the content of this privileged briefing for certain Members only?

[Mr Speaker]

I am bound to say that this is the first I have heard of the matter. I am a member of the Privy Council, although of course as Speaker, other than in a tie, I would not vote, so I am probably not a person of any great interest in terms of the delivery of said briefing. I can say only that to the best of my knowledge I have not been invited to such. This is not a matter for me, although the hon. Gentleman might wish it to be.

I would very much hope that all Members would be kept informed on the subject of the implications of upcoming votes. If those implications are thought to be important, it must logically follow that they are important to all Members, and all constituents of all Members, rather than only to a select category of persons. [Interruption.] The Government Whip, the hon. Member for Finchley and Golders Green (Mike Freer), chunters from a sedentary position that there are several Privy Counsellors present; I have no reason to dispute that proposition, and looking around, it appears to be true, but it is probably also true that there are a lot of people here who are not members of the Privy Council. On a rough estimate, I would say there are more non-Privy Counsellors present than Privy Counsellors, but we can continue our game of rhetorical tiddlywinks elsewhere.