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Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

Yet again, my hon. Friend is correct. We have seen no signal from the Government—I will happily to give way to the Minister if he wishes to signal—that they will take on board the sensible, reasoned, bipartisan approach offered by the Select Committee. It is disappointing that the Minister does not wish to take that simple point on board. As the hon. Gentleman said, the issue cannot be resolved in the courts, because it would be an embarrassment to this House—a House that has stood in one form or another for 900 years—if we were forced to resort to them. We are not the Americans, I am pleased to say, and our political process should be decided through the will of the people and through their elected representatives. We should not pay high-value, slick lawyers to scurry off to the Supreme Court to try to overturn— Debate interrupted (Programme Orders, 13 September and this day). The occupant of the Chair left the Chair to report progress and ask leave to sit again. The Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair. Progress reported; Committee to sit again tomorrow.