Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Thomas Docherty Excerpts
Thursday 23rd February 2012

(12 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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I understand my hon. Friend’s concern, but what he suggests would go against the thrust of the Wright Committee reforms, whereby the St David’s day debate and other set-piece debates were handed over to the Backbench Business Committee to give it—

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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It is all very well the hon. Gentleman saying that, but this Government have done something that no other Government have ever done, which is to give Back Benchers the right to set the agenda of the House. He should be careful about grumbling about that.

It is now a matter for the Backbench Business Committee to weigh the priority of the St David’s day debate against other debates that Members bid to hold on the same day.