Ministerial statement on Thursday, 2 July 2015, in the House of Commons, led by Lord Grayling.
English Votes on English Laws
Statement on the Government’s plans to provide fairness for England in our constitutional arrangements.
Secondary information
- Type
- Parliamentary proceeding
- Reference
- 597 cc1645-1667
- Session
- 2015-16
- Department
- Leader of the House of Commons
- Chamber / Committee
- House of Commons chamber
- Related items
- Proceeding contributions
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Lord Grayling | 597 cc1646-8 (Link to this contribution)
With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Government’s plans to provid...
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Angela Eagle | 597 cc1648-9 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Leader of the House for giving me, earlier this morning, advance sight of his stateme...
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Lord Grayling | 597 cc1649-1650 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady talks about rushing ahead. The West Lothian question has existed for 20 years. In 1...
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Charles Walker | 597 c1650 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the Leader of the House for his statement. The Procedure Committee will do a quick and di...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1650 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. I congratulate him on his uncontested re-election as Chai...
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John Bercow | 597 c1651 (Link to this contribution)
Order. This issue, of course, evokes very strong feeling in all parts of the House. Let me say at...
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Pete Wishart | 597 c1651 (Link to this contribution)
What a lot of constitutional bilge and unworkable garbage! What this statement is creating is two...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman seems a tad on the exercised side. I simply do not accept that what he says wo...
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Lord Redwood | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
I am pleased that the Government now have an answer to the question I posed before the Scottish r...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right, as ever. I find it difficult to understand how it is po...
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John Bercow | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
Order. The hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Mr MacNeil) must calm himself. He is an aspiring...
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Angus Brendan MacNeil | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
We will let you have full fiscal autonomy.
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John Bercow | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
Ah! A long time to go.
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John Bercow | 597 c1652 (Link to this contribution)
A lecture in calmness will be provided by the Father of the House, I feel sure.
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Gerald Kaufman | 597 cc1652-3 (Link to this contribution)
Even the title of the statement sounds racist. [Interruption.] Yes! Yes!
The Leader of the ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1653 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman is a distinguished Member of the House, but I have to say that his openi...
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James Gray | 597 c1653 (Link to this contribution)
Mr Speaker—[Interruption.]
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John Bercow | 597 c1653 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I have known the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr Gray) for more than 20 years, and I h...
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James Gray | 597 c1653 (Link to this contribution)
The only occasion on which I recall having had difficulty in making myself heard, Mr Speaker, was...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1653 (Link to this contribution)
It is important for me to stress that what we are delivering is what was voted on by the people o...
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Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh | 597 c1653 (Link to this contribution)
The general election saw the Conservative party fall to its worst level in Scotland since the int...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1654 (Link to this contribution)
The people of Scotland voted for the Union, and we are delivering more powers for the Scottish Pa...
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Dominic Grieve | 597 c1654 (Link to this contribution)
The point has been fairly made that, because of the funding system we have in the UK, many decisi...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1654 (Link to this contribution)
The point that SNP Members seem to have failed to take on board is that no measure will be able t...
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Ian Lucas | 597 c1654 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman is a Member of Parliament from England. I am a Member of Parliament from...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1654 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman will of course as a result of these proposals continue to vote on all UK issue...
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Stephen Hammond | 597 c1654 (Link to this contribution)
My constituents who have written to me about this will warmly welcome my right hon. Friend’s stat...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1655 (Link to this contribution)
This is an important point; it is absolutely right and fundamental. Over the next two years, we s...
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Alistair Carmichael | 597 c1655 (Link to this contribution)
If there are not to be two tiers of MPs in this House after these changes, what on earth does it ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1655 (Link to this contribution)
Standing Orders can be amended and changed by hon. Members, but if it is the view of Members of t...
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David Jones | 597 c1655 (Link to this contribution)
I fully understand the mischief that my right hon. Friend is seeking to address, but he will unde...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1655 (Link to this contribution)
I am acutely aware of the issues affecting people, particularly in north Wales, where there are c...
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Paul Flynn | 597 c1655 (Link to this contribution)
Why does the House of Lords remain unreformed—a model of democratic perfection, where it is still...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman talks about the House of Lords, but if he is so exercised by that perhaps he w...
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Peter Bone | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
The fact that the programme motion was never moved might be a reason.
The Leader of the Hou...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
The programme motion was not moved precisely because the Labour party said its Members would not ...
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Hywel Williams | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
At the foot of page 2, the explanatory notes state:
“Any bills that the Speaker has certifi...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
There will be a relatively small number of England-only Committees; most Bills are broader in ext...
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David Rutley | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
I support the rights of, and the transfer and devolution of powers to, not just the different cou...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1656 (Link to this contribution)
I can absolutely confirm that. As I said at the start, I am a Minister in a Conservative and Unio...
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Angus Brendan MacNeil | 597 c1657 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman talked earlier about Scotland having a stronger voice in the Union, but ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1657 (Link to this contribution)
The Scottish National party is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the Scottish people...
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Nigel Mills | 597 c1657 (Link to this contribution)
I welcome this limited start on English votes for English laws, but I am intrigued as to how we w...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1657 (Link to this contribution)
Once the devolution of tax rates has been completed, and when we are debating the Finance Bill an...
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Mike Gapes | 597 c1657 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Leader of the House clarify the position for London MPs? As a London MP, I have no say o...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1657 (Link to this contribution)
The difference is that Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast have Parliaments and Assemblies that legisl...
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Martin Vickers | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
My constituents will warmly welcome this Bill—
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Fiona Mactaggart | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
It’s not a Bill!
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Martin Vickers | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
This statement. I can see why our Scottish colleagues fail to understand the feelings of hostilit...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
We are clear about the end point, which involves a strong Parliament for Scotland, with more devo...
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Lord Dodds of Duncairn | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for allowing the voice of Northern Ireland to be heard. As these...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
The simple principle of these changes is that if a matter is not devolved, it will be and is a ma...
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Ranil Jayawardena | 597 c1658 (Link to this contribution)
My right hon. Friend rightly referenced the fact that some Opposition Members cannot vote on educ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1659 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I do, and it is important to pick up on what the leader of the Democratic Unionist party sai...
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Fiona Mactaggart | 597 c1659 (Link to this contribution)
I proudly represent an English constituency, but I am also a proud Unionist. I am shocked by this...
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Fiona Mactaggart | 597 c1659 (Link to this contribution)
And Wales. Their questions are merely a precursor of what will happen when the right hon. Gentlem...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1659 (Link to this contribution)
If the right hon. Lady and others wish to come forward as part of the review and say that they no...
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Oliver Dowden | 597 c1659 (Link to this contribution)
Does my right hon. Friend agree that fairness also extends to timing? My constituents expect that...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1659 (Link to this contribution)
That is the key point. Whether Opposition Members accept it or not, this Parliament is currently ...
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Michelle Thomson | 597 c1660 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the House said: “and they will give the decisive vote on tax measures”. For me, tha...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1660 (Link to this contribution)
Well, nobody is afraid of hearing Scotland’s voice. As I have said before, I welcome all the new ...
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Tom Pursglove | 597 c1660 (Link to this contribution)
Does the Leader of the House agree that it is simply unpalatable for those living in English cons...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1660 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely, and my hon. Friend represents a large number of Scottish constituents, and he is a po...
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Albert Owen | 597 c1660 (Link to this contribution)
Going back to the London question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford South (Mike Gape...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1660 (Link to this contribution)
Policing is a classic example of something that is not devolved. We do not have a separate Welsh ...
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Bob Blackman | 597 c1661 (Link to this contribution)
I can recommend some good breathing exercises for Opposition Members to calm them down. Many of m...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1661 (Link to this contribution)
I have said that in 12 months’ time we will be open to listening to the views of Members. I hope ...
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Mike Weir | 597 c1661 (Link to this contribution)
I listened carefully when the Leader of the House said that there would be no changes in the Hous...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1661 (Link to this contribution)
A Lords amendment will be subject to the same certification process whether it is UK in its exten...
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David Morris | 597 c1661 (Link to this contribution)
Following on from what the hon. Member for Angus (Mike Weir) said, I too am very concerned about ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1661 (Link to this contribution)
The Lords will debate what we send to them as a House. If they send back legislation with materia...
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Diana Johnson | 597 c1662 (Link to this contribution)
I must say that I think that this is one of the most ill thought through statements that I have e...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1662 (Link to this contribution)
I gently remind the hon. Lady that this proposal was part of a manifesto on which we were elected...
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Margaret Ferrier | 597 c1662 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the House states that today he is answering the West Lothian question and recognisi...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1662 (Link to this contribution)
I do not think that with the SNP there is any danger of Scotland’s voice not being heard. I simpl...
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Lord Hanson of Flint | 597 c1662 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Leader of the House ponder for a moment on the fact that had his proposals been in place...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1662 (Link to this contribution)
That is simply not true. They would have been able to vote. As I said earlier, every Scottish, We...
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Nia Griffith | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the House has already shown his disdain for Welsh MPs by timetabling the debate on ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
The test is that if a matter is devolved to the Welsh Assembly, the Scottish Parliament or the No...
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Susan Elan Jones | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
It is something of an irony that this announcement is made today when the first item of business ...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
The answer is that they would all vote on the proposals. The difference is that if there is a leg...
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Tom Tugendhat | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Leader of the House recognise that although 95% of the MPs in Scotland are from the SNP,...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
That is absolutely correct. This is a United Kingdom Parliament. We have a majority in the United...
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Patrick Grady | 597 c1663 (Link to this contribution)
I am not sure whether we are hearing proposals for English votes for English laws or for Tory vot...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
I can tell the hon. Gentleman that for now we will not apply this to private Members’ Bills. It w...
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Kirsty Blackman | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
I am concerned that these proposals mean that Scots MPs will be ceding power over matters that ha...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
As I said, there will be a full day’s debate in which all these matters can be raised. The Speake...
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Ian Blackford | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
The House should reflect that when the Leader of the House rose to make his statement at 11.30 th...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
I am afraid I think that that is nonsense. The SNP seems to believe that it is fine to have more ...
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Tom Brake | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
As devolution to the nations continues apace, we need to find a solution to the English question....
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1664 (Link to this contribution)
I think that these changes are essential to the future of the Union, but we will consult extensiv...
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Roger Mullin | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
The West Lothian question is as of nothing compared with the utter shambles in the House today. L...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
That is not strictly true. The hon. Gentleman does not speak for his constituents on education. I...
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Marion Fellows | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
I want to extend a hand of friendship somewhat to the Leader of the House, who is proposing to in...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
I have no idea if any of the new intake of Scottish MPs have any tattoos, but personally I prefer...
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George Kerevan | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
The Minister woefully misunderstands the essence of the West Lothian question. I say this as a cl...
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Natascha Engel | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Will the hon. Gentleman please be seated? I think he would like to come to a question for ...
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George Kerevan | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
Does the right hon. Gentleman understand the West Lothian question?
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1665 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely understand the West Lothian question. The people who did not understand the West Lot...
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Chris Stephens | 597 c1666 (Link to this contribution)
The comments that we have heard from Government Members show a remarkable ignorance or that Minis...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1666 (Link to this contribution)
I say again to the SNP and in particular to the hon. Members for Glasgow South West (Chris Stephe...
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Drew Hendry | 597 c1666 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Leader of the House answer this question on the specifics of voting in this House and no...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1666 (Link to this contribution)
No, I do not because constitutional matters—[Interruption.] I say to the Scottish nationalists th...
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Alan Brown | 597 c1666 (Link to this contribution)
I think this is a case of last and least, given the fine contributions from my hon. Friends. We o...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1667 (Link to this contribution)
All Members of Parliament from all parts of the United Kingdom will continue to vote on budget ma...
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Chris Heaton-Harris | 597 c1667 (Link to this contribution)
The Scottish National party Members here wisely and honourably make a vow of abstinence that they...
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Lord Grayling | 597 c1667 (Link to this contribution)
I can absolutely give that assurance. It is right and proper. These changes are necessary because...
- Subjects
- Devolution House of Lords House of Commons England Public expenditure Parliamentary procedure Lords amendments Wales Taxation Speaker Divisions Committee stage Standing orders West Lothian question Bills English votes for English laws
- Link
- View this Parliamentary proceeding on www.publications.parliament.uk
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