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Home Affairs

The Home Affairs Committee’s meetings are a matter for the Committee. It is not a matter for me, as the Leader of the House, to dictate when the Committee sits, but it would have time, if the House sees fit, to meet to approve the motion that I have tabled and, if it so decides, to choose a new Chairman and to establish, through that Chairman, a work programme that would take it through until October. I understand hon. Members’ concern and outrage, but people would also be concerned if we went into the summer recess with a Cabinet Minister still a member of the Home Affairs Committee. ... I will give way once more, and then I must press on with my speech, which I hope will sway the House—although I think that unlikely.