Debate on Thursday, 26 March 2015, in the House of Commons, led by Lord Hague of Richmond. The answering member was Angela Eagle.

Procedure of the House

Business motion relating to proceedings on the motions in the name of Mr William Hague. Agreed to on question. Motions to take note of paragraphs 21 to 28 of the Procedure Committee seventh report on tabling of amendments and new clauses (agreed to on question), that the Resolution of the House of 19 March 2013, relating to Positions for which additional salaries are payable for the purposes of Section 4A(2) of the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, be amended by inserting after “the Liaison Committee”, “the Petitions Committee,” (agreed to on question), noting the recommendation of the Procedure Committee, fifth report, about elections for positions in the House to be decided by secret ballot when the question at the start of a new Parliament that a former Speaker take the Chair is challenged and amending Standing Order 1A (negatived on division (202 to 228)), and that at the start of the 2015 Parliament, the Speaker may nominate no more than three Members as Deputy Speakers to serve until the House has elected Deputy Speakers in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 2A; and that the Members so nominated shall exercise all the powers vested in the Chairman of Ways and Means as Deputy Speaker (agreed to on question).

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 594 cc1628-1633
Session: 2014-15
Department: Leader of the House of Commons
Procedure: Business motions
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: 2010 elections for positions in the House. Procedure Select Committee fifth report with written evidence and formal minutes.
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Matters for the Procedure Committee in the 2015 Parliament: Procedure Committee seventh report with an appendix and formal minutes.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Parliamentary committees
House of Commons; Pay for Petitions committee Chair
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons; Elections for Positions in the House
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons; Deputy Speakers
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Proceeding contributions: Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1611 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move
That this House takes note of paragraphs 21 to 28 of the Seventh Report of th...; John Bercow | 594 c1611 (Link to this contribution)
With this it will be convenient to debate the following:
Motion on pay for Petitions Commit...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 cc1611-2 (Link to this contribution)
We have already anticipated some of this debate during the urgent question, but I rise to speak t...; Pete Wishart | 594 c1612 (Link to this contribution)
If we are having a secret ballot for the position of the Speaker of the House, does the right hon...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1612 (Link to this contribution)
I am talking about the programming of Bills, but I shall come on to the secret ballot issue in a ...; Helen Goodman | 594 c1612 (Link to this contribution)
As the Leader of the House will recall, the purpose of changing the arrangements for timetabling ...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1612 (Link to this contribution)
We have generally had a great number of days for Report, and we worked closely with the Oppositio...; David Nuttall | 594 c1612 (Link to this contribution)
I understand that the delay in tabling these matters was that the Government needed to see whethe...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1612 (Link to this contribution)
It would certainly have been much more difficult to do it, so the absence of Lords amendments mad...; Lord Brennan of Canton | 594 c1613 (Link to this contribution)
Given that the right hon. Gentleman told the House that he tabled these motions on the basis of r...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1613 (Link to this contribution)
I think that would be too much of a revolutionary change, but the particular change I am talking ...; Michael Fabricant | 594 c1613 (Link to this contribution)
Will my right hon. Friend pay tribute to Mr Speaker who, on 20 July 2000 and again on 23 April 20...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1613 (Link to this contribution)
That is an important consideration and it brings me to the fourth motion, on whether there should...; Andrew Gwynne | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
I very much support the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) who said that these matte...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman can take his own view and is able to vote in the coming Division on whether we...; Yasmin Qureshi | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
If the Committee made this recommendation years ago, as has been said, does the right hon. Gentle...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
Of course the recommendation could have been considered earlier in the Parliament, but it was not...; Greg Knight | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
I think my right hon. Friend has inadvertently misled the House. The recommendation from the Proc...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
That is an important point. There was a clear view from the Procedure Committee in 2009, but it w...; Peter Bone | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Leader of the House confirm what would happen at the beginning of the next Parliament? A...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1614 (Link to this contribution)
That is absolutely true. All that we are discussing is whether that would be followed by an open ...; Peter Bottomley | 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
May I suggest that we accept that, with the presence of the Speaker in the Chair now, it is a dep...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
I think the House should treat this issue in that way because we are talking about procedures of ...; 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
Before I give way again let me discuss some of the arguments because I want to leave time for the...; Kevin Barron | 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
This proposal, like the elections for Committee Chairs, goes against one of the major principles ...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
I think it would be a minority view on both sides of the House that all elections should be by op...; Graham Stuart | 594 c1615 (Link to this contribution)
I was elected Chair of the Education Committee under the new procedure in this Parliament by secr...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1616 (Link to this contribution)
Personally, I come down on the same side of the question because I think that a secret ballot fre...; Mike Gapes | 594 c1616 (Link to this contribution)
Earlier the Leader of the House said that these proposals were coming forward today because we ha...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1616 (Link to this contribution)
I have already answered that question. It would certainly have been much more difficult and I dou...; Angela Eagle | 594 c1616 (Link to this contribution)
It is with genuine sorrow and anger that I rise to oppose this motion today. I shall address only...; Lord Barker of Battle | 594 c1616 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Lady give way?; Angela Eagle | 594 cc1616-7 (Link to this contribution)
No.
The Leader of the House has taken nearly a third of the time that he has allocated for ...; Lord Barker of Battle | 594 c1617 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Lady give way?; Angela Eagle | 594 cc1617-8 (Link to this contribution)
No. The Leader of the House has taken a long time and we have a very short time to debate these m...; 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Mark Pritchard | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your guidance. Given that many Members are standing and t...; John Bercow | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
There is not a time limit and it is not that common to have a time limit on procedural matters. I...; Emily Thornberry | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Given that so many Members wish to speak on this very important ...; John Bercow | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
The short answer is no. The motion has been tabled by the Government for the debate to last for u...; Joan Walley | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Can you make sure that the general public out there, ...; John Bercow | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
Well, people can attend to our proceedings if they so wish. I imagine that some will and some won...; Lord Barker of Battle | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Given the very sensitive nature of this discussion, have you tak...; John Bercow | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
I will respond to the right hon. Gentleman in a moment with pleasure.; Julian Lewis | 594 c1618 (Link to this contribution)
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. Can I just say that my right hon. Friend has just exc...; John Bercow | 594 c1619 (Link to this contribution)
I am very happy to respond to the right hon. Member for Bexhill and Battle (Gregory Barker). The ...; Charles Walker | 594 cc1619-1620 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you for calling me to speak in this debate this afternoon, Mr Speaker. I am not ashamed to ...; Gordon Marsden | 594 cc1620-1 (Link to this contribution)
We talk a lot these days, in this House and elsewhere, about transparency. There is a more old-fa...; Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park | 594 cc1621-2 (Link to this contribution)
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mr Walker), who delivered an extraordi...; Chris Bryant | 594 c1622 (Link to this contribution)
By definition, the Government of the day have a majority in the House and can remove a Speaker an...; John Bercow | 594 c1622 (Link to this contribution)
Order. There is noise on both sides. We cannot have recurring noise when colleagues are speaking,...; Chris Bryant | 594 c1622 (Link to this contribution)
If the Speaker should have any bias at all, as has been the established practice for more than 15...; Lord Brennan of Canton | 594 c1622 (Link to this contribution)
Given that we have a constitutional convention that the Speaker is not opposed by the main partie...; Chris Bryant | 594 c1622 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend makes a very important point. The Speaker does not stand on a party ticket, so if ...; Lord Barker of Battle | 594 c1623 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Chris Bryant | 594 c1623 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman, because previously he exposed the whole rationale be...; Lord Barker of Battle | 594 c1623 (Link to this contribution)
On the contrary, I have not made a single personal remark about the Speaker during my entire time...; Chris Bryant | 594 c1623 (Link to this contribution)
If the right hon. Gentleman does not mind, let me say this. If he has not worked out my views on ...; 594 c1623 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Chris Bryant | 594 cc1623-4 (Link to this contribution)
I am not giving way any more, as I ought to draw my remarks to a conclusion.
I say to Conse...; Pete Wishart | 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Given the great unhappiness about this process and the way this ...; John Bercow | 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
There is, of course, a device of moving the previous question, but it would affect only the first...; 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Before I take more points of order, let me explain that I would like to call a couple more...; David Heath | 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
Further to the point of order, Mr Speaker. There is, of course, another way. The Leader of the Ho...; 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
Withdraw, withdraw!; John Bercow | 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the House can respond to the point of order if he so wishes, but he does not wish t...; Julian Lewis | 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to break the habit of a lifetime and say nothing myself, quoting instead a Liberal Dem...; 594 c1624 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 594 c1625 (Link to this contribution)
Order. In calling the next Member, let me say that I intend to call a Liberal Democrat Member, an...; Paul Flynn | 594 c1625 (Link to this contribution)
I believe that the Leader of the House has a choice in front him: withdrawal of this motion or hu...; David Winnick | 594 c1625 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Leader of the House has listened to the views of the House, ...; John Bercow | 594 c1626 (Link to this contribution)
That is not a matter for the Chair. The Leader of the House can respond if he wishes, but he is n...; Lord Hague of Richmond | 594 c1626 (Link to this contribution)
indicated dissent.; John Bercow | 594 c1626 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the House does not wish to respond.; 594 c1626 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 594 c1626 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I am keen to accommodate more colleagues, but great brevity is required. There are seven m...; Duncan Hames | 594 cc1626-7 (Link to this contribution)
I am very grateful to you for calling me, Mr Speaker, not just as a Liberal Democrat but as a Mem...; 594 c1627 (Link to this contribution)
Withdraw!
1.14 pm; Nicholas Dakin | 594 c1627 (Link to this contribution)
I am surprised that we are having this debate at this time, and I think that it does us no good.<...; Gerald Howarth | 594 c1627 (Link to this contribution)
I am not opposed in principle to the idea of a secret ballot, and I very much regret, Mr Speaker,...; John Bercow | 594 c1627 (Link to this contribution)
Who is?; Gerald Howarth | 594 c1627 (Link to this contribution)
Indeed—who is?
I must say to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House—whom I revere as ...; Jesse Norman | 594 c1627 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I express my sadness and regret that you have not seen fit t...; John Bercow | 594 c1628 (Link to this contribution)
If the hon. Gentleman’s complaint is that there is inadequate time for right hon. and hon. Member...; Jacob Rees-Mogg | 594 c1628 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. As there is such widespread demand for an increase in the time a...; John Bercow | 594 c1628 (Link to this contribution)
The answer to that, I fear—as far as the hon. Gentleman is concerned—is that the Government table...; John Bercow | 594 c1628 (Link to this contribution)
Withdraw!
1.18 pm
One hour having elapsed since the commencement of proceedings on th...; Charlotte Leslie | 594 c1681 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The hon. Members for Worsley and Eccles South (Barbara Keeley), ...; John Bercow | 594 c1681 (Link to this contribution)
Order. The hon. Lady must be heard.; Charlotte Leslie | 594 c1681 (Link to this contribution)
It was a publicly minuted decision not to prepare a report on NHS public expenditure. Secondly, I...; Chris Ruane | 594 c1681 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 594 cc1681-1633 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I will come to other points of order, but first may I thank the hon. Lady for her courtesy...; Chris Ruane | 594 c1633 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is about more grubby business. On 4 November, I tabled a qu...; John Bercow | 594 c1633 (Link to this contribution)
I am very taken aback by the idea that any question should be unanswered for so long. Members wil...; Lord Gove | 594 c1633 (Link to this contribution)
indicated assent.; John Bercow | 594 c1633 (Link to this contribution)
I thank him for that. We will hope to secure an improvement in the next Parliament.; Valerie Vaz | 594 c1633 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is in fact further to the point of order raised by the hon....; John Bercow | 594 c1633 (Link to this contribution)
I am genuinely grateful to the hon. Lady for her point of order. She is, of course, a member of t...
Subjects: Elections Pay Select committees Speaker Secret ballot Liaison Committee Deputy Speakers New clauses e-petitions Paper petitions
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on www.publications.parliament.uk

Procedure of the House

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