Written question asked by Grant Shapps (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 25 March 2010. It was answered by Baroness Harman (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 on behalf of the Leader of the House of Commons.

Petitions

Question: To ask the Leader of the House (1) if she will bring forward proposals to require a Minister of the Crown to present to the House any bill supported in a petition signed by one million or more people eligible to vote;

Answer: On 22 February, the House approved recommendations from the Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons (HC 1117, Session 2008-09) for greater public involvement in the legislative process (Recommendation 42) and for the establishment of a system of petitions requiring debate (Recommendation 43). Further work on the implementation of these recommendations will be required in the next Parliament.I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the written answer given by the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey), representing the House of Commons Commission, on 8 February 2010, Official Report, columns 651-52W, which describes some of the work already being undertaken by the House authorities in these areas.

Secondary information