That this House applauds Speaker Martin's long and honourable service to his country and to this House; and believes that the House will be forever in his debt.

That this House applauds Speaker Martin's long and honourable service to his country and to this House; and believes that the House will be forever in his debt.

That this House believes that the Government should not control all the time on the floor of the House; considers that Parliament should be reinstated as an independent forum by empowering the Speaker, select committees and backbenchers; further believes that the Speaker, through a business committee of the whole House, should determine a significant part of debate on the floor of the House, whilst leaving adequate time for the Government to get its business through, to enable select committees and hon. Members to make substantive motions as well as Government and opposition parties; further believes that the Speaker should effectively become the non-partisan manager of the House, liaising with Government and opposition business managers; further considers that select committees, as well as scrutinising Government departments, should be upgraded to an advice and consent role on senior public appointments; further believes that Government should have to respond in detail to all select committee recommendations; further considers that select committee chairs should be selected by secret ballot of the whole House within the context of party balance; and further believes that select committees should be entitled to receive the kind of support from the National Audit Office and the Scrutiny Unit currently given to the Public Accounts Committee.

That this House believes that the Government should not control all the time on the floor of the House; considers that Parliament should be reinstated as an independent forum by empowering the Speaker, select committees and backbenchers; further believes that the Speaker, through a business committee of the whole House,...

That this House pays tribute to Mr Speaker.

That this House pays tribute to Mr Speaker.

That this House believes the Speaker is best placed to decide when to retire from office.

That this House believes the Speaker is best placed to decide when to retire from office.

That this House deplores the innuendo of the blog of Nick Robinson, the BBC's lobby correspondent; calls upon him to substantiate the imputations he makes in his blog concerning the Speaker and hon. Members; and also calls upon the BBC to publish a full, itemised account of the expenses of Mr Robinson, in the name of transparency and accountability of public funds.

That this House deplores the innuendo of the blog of Nick Robinson, the BBC's lobby correspondent; calls upon him to substantiate the imputations he makes in his blog concerning the Speaker and hon. Members; and also calls upon the BBC to publish a full, itemised account of the expenses of...

That this House notes the distinguished and committed service to Parliament of Sir Nicolas Bevan CB; thanks him for his wise counsel and unfailing courtesy to honourable Members from all side of the House; and wishes him and his wife, Christine, many happy years in retirement.

That this House notes the distinguished and committed service to Parliament of Sir Nicolas Bevan CB; thanks him for his wise counsel and unfailing courtesy to honourable Members from all side of the House; and wishes him and his wife, Christine, many happy years in retirement.

That this House notes that, according to Standing Orders, procedures for the election of the new Speaker could preclude all but two of the honourable Members who may have declared their candidature from offering themselves to honourable Members for election; calls on the Procedure Committee to bring forward amendments to Standing Orders to provide for democratic elections in which each honourable Member may cast a vote for his or her chosen candidate; and further calls on the candidates to issue personal manifestos so that honourable Members may make informed choices based on the candidates' stated commitment to the rights of backbenchers and the modernisation of the House.

That this House notes that, according to Standing Orders, procedures for the election of the new Speaker could preclude all but two of the honourable Members who may have declared their candidature from offering themselves to honourable Members for election; calls on the Procedure Committee to bring forward amendments to...

That this House calls on the Leader of the House to bring forward proposals that will allow honourable Members to vote on all candidates for the office of Speaker.

That this House calls on the Leader of the House to bring forward proposals that will allow honourable Members to vote on all candidates for the office of Speaker.

That this House is pleased to note that several worthy candidates' names are being considered by honourable and Right honourable Members for election as Speaker; believing it should have the greatest possible freedom of choice of Speaker, disagrees with the opinion of the then Select Committee on Procedure in 1996 that no change was needed to the voting system; further believes that the fairest system would be an eliminatory ballot; and is confident that it is easily within the competence of the current Select Committee to bring forward proposals for such a system which would avoid the over-lengthy procedures described in its predecessor's 1996 Report, especially when other legislatures have already done so.

That this House is pleased to note that several worthy candidates' names are being considered by honourable and Right honourable Members for election as Speaker; believing it should have the greatest possible freedom of choice of Speaker, disagrees with the opinion of the then Select Committee on Procedure in 1996...