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Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

Thank you, Mr Hoyle. That proves my point—the areas where we cannot go because they are before judges are increasing. In his written statement, the Minister simply cites article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1689, and leaves it at that. It provides that"““proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court””," and he said he could see"““no reason why the courts would not continue to defer to them””." The comity between Parliament and the courts has relied on the fact that the internal proceedings were entirely matters for the House's jurisdiction. Its procedures arising from Standing Orders or resolutions cannot be legally challenged, but statute law can. That is the extraordinary development in the Bill.