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Proceeding contribution from Lord Wallace of Tankerness (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Lords on Tuesday, 29 March 2011. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Fixed-term Parliaments Bill.


Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

My Lords, I thank the noble and learned Lord for his explanation of the amendment as I found its purpose somewhat difficult to discern. He has indicated that it seeks to address the situation, perhaps immediately after an election, where no Government have been formed. My difficulty is that, if the amendment were included in the Bill, a situation such as we are discussing might arise later in a Parliament when a Government had been formed. The amendment states: "““An early general election will only be called at the end of a 14 day period following a vote of no confidence if no Government has been formed since the last general election””." That could almost exclude an early general election being called if, the Government having been formed since the last general election, there was a vote of no confidence and no other Government were then formed. I suspect that is a technical consequence of the amendment that the noble and learned Lord did not intend. As I understand it—


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
726 c1128-9 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Courts General elections Government Judgements Fixed-term parliaments Dissolution National Assembly for Wales Parliament Scotland Wales Scottish Parliament Speaker Resignations Censure motions
Legislation
Fixed-term Parliaments Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk