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Questions for Short Debate and Select Committee Reports: Parliamentary Scrutiny

Answer

My Noble Friend the Government Chief Whip has no such plans. In line with the Guidance on Hybrid House and Hybrid Grand Committee set down by the Procedure and Privileges Committee, legislation is currently taking precedence on sitting Fridays.

Despite the constraints on the way in which the House is working we have managed to debate 11 Select Committee reports in the session to date. I expect it to be possible to debate further reports as the session progresses.

Last week the Government Chief Whip wrote to the Procedure and Privileges Committee with a suggestion as to how we can adapt our current working practices to allow a limited number of Questions for Short Debate to be asked in Grand Committee.

Background/points we could make:

- The short answer to the question is ‘no’.

- We normally sit on only one Friday per calendar month. We have had to sit on more than that since returning from the summer recess to accommodate the various Coronavirus regulations.

- The Procedure and Privileges Committee guidance clearly states, at paragraph 39, that:

- “Until further notice, Thursday and Friday sittings of the hybrid House may be used for legislation which shall have precedence over other business.”

- Despite the broadcasting and administrative restrictions we have been working under we have still managed to debate 11 select committee reports in the session to date. And will take more where we can.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL8699

Session

2019-21

Attachment

B Evans signed

Subjects

Parliamentary scrutiny Select Committee reports Questions for short debate

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk