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Business of the House

It is fair to say that on other technical issues my hon. Friend often confuses me, but on this one he does not. I invite him to look carefully at the experience that not only Robin Cook but previous Governments had in bringing forward options. The reason for establishing a Joint Committee is to avoid the problems that occurred in the past. No result could be achieved because no one believed that the various options were suitable in the light of the powers enjoyed by the second Chamber under the present arrangements. That is why it is so important to achieve an agreed understanding of the relationship between the two Houses and the powers of the second Chamber before those options are put. I invite my hon. Friend to look carefully at the manifesto, because it sets out a clear process for achieving that. Only once there is a shared understanding of the relationship between the two Houses does it seem sensible to bring forward options. On that basis, we can then have a clearer and more definitive vote on those options, on a free vote.