Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Baroness Laing of Elderslie (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 24 October 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Devolution

Question: What the Minister has just said is simply wrong. How can the Government continue to ignore the effect that the devolution settlement has on the House of Commons? The West Lothian question will not go away. That great Labour parliamentarian Tam Dalyell was right to ask it 30 years ago, and we will continue to ask it. When will the Government take steps to strengthen the Union by ensuring that Members of Parliament who represent English constituencies have a decisive say when we make laws for England?

Answer: The hon. Lady cites Tam Dalyell. Let me put it to her in this way:"““This proposal risks creating two classes of MP. It would be a constitutional abortion. Either you are a member of parliament or you are not. If you go ahead with this, you will have 100 MPs—including those from Wales and Northern Ireland—who are second-class legislators.””" That was said by the right hon. and learned Member for Kensington and Chelsea (Sir Malcolm Rifkind).

Secondary information