To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress has been made on the adoption of the 1998 European Convention on Driving Disqualifications; and what steps he has taken to promote mutual recognition of driving disqualifications in EU member states.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what progress has been made on the adoption of the 1998 European Convention on Driving Disqualifications; and what steps he has taken to promote mutual recognition of driving disqualifications in EU member states.

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (Helen Goodman) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Secretary of State will be making changes to the discretionary Social Fund in relation to direction 17, with effect from 1 April 2010. With effect from 1 April,...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (Helen Goodman) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The Secretary of State will be making changes to the discretionary Social Fund in relation to direction 17, with effect from 1 April 2010. With effect from 1 April,...

The Secretary of State will be making changes to the discretionary social fund in relation to direction 17, with effect from 1 April 2010. With effect from 1 April a new benefit sanction for all first offences of benefit fraud, "One Strike", will be introduced along with a sanction for...

The Secretary of State will be making changes to the discretionary social fund in relation to direction 17, with effect from 1 April 2010. With effect from 1 April a new benefit sanction for all first offences of benefit fraud, "One Strike", will be introduced along with a sanction for...

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 4 February (WA 66), whether there is discrimination between life Peers and excepted hereditary Peers in respect of their ability to return to the House of Lords after ceasing to be members of the European Parliament.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 4 February (WA 66), whether there is discrimination between life Peers and excepted hereditary Peers in respect of their ability to return to the House of Lords after ceasing to be members of the European Parliament.

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 4 February (WA 66), whether they will table an amendment to repeal the European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008 in the Constitutional Reform and Government Bill currently before Parliament, or table an amendment to...

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 4 February (WA 66), whether they will table an amendment to repeal the European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008 in the Constitutional Reform and Government Bill currently before Parliament, or table an amendment to...

Debate on a motion to approve proposed amendments to schedule 1 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975. Agreed on question.

Debate on a motion to approve proposed amendments to schedule 1 of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975. Agreed on question.

The Minister says that the number has fallen, but since when?

The Minister says that the number has fallen, but since when?

I give way to the hon. Gentleman.—[Interruption.]

I give way to the hon. Gentleman.—[Interruption.]

Well, I did not actually bring up the number of quangos. There has been a suggestion that there are too many board members of quangos, or that they are too well paid. There is an annual Cabinet Office report on public bodies, which shows that there were 38,000 people on...

Well, I did not actually bring up the number of quangos. There has been a suggestion that there are too many board members of quangos, or that they are too well paid. There is an annual Cabinet Office report on public bodies, which shows that there were 38,000 people on...

I am certainly happy to let the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire have the guidance that the Cabinet Office uses. Interestingly, one of my concerns has been that I can foresee people being caught in a situation of not having a great prospect of success and...

I am certainly happy to let the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire have the guidance that the Cabinet Office uses. Interestingly, one of my concerns has been that I can foresee people being caught in a situation of not having a great prospect of success and...

I am sorry about the noises off, because I actually think that this is quite an interesting point. I am not sure whether people are aware that it is possible for someone to be reappointed after a period. I am interested in whether that would go through without the normal...

I am sorry about the noises off, because I actually think that this is quite an interesting point. I am not sure whether people are aware that it is possible for someone to be reappointed after a period. I am interested in whether that would go through without the normal...

My right hon. Friend makes a valid and serious point that will need to be considered. I very hope much that it will be, in due course. It is also noteworthy that some of the additions to the list of excluded people are a consequence of the failure of previous...

My right hon. Friend makes a valid and serious point that will need to be considered. I very hope much that it will be, in due course. It is also noteworthy that some of the additions to the list of excluded people are a consequence of the failure of previous...

I agree with the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) that the explanatory note is, indeed, very useful, and I am delighted that my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Mr. Vara), on the Front Bench, says that if there is an incoming Conservative Government later this...

I agree with the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) that the explanatory note is, indeed, very useful, and I am delighted that my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Mr. Vara), on the Front Bench, says that if there is an incoming Conservative Government later this...

Ideally, the information would go to both bodies, because the candidate deals with the bureaucracy of the body of which they are a member and the returning officer. They clear with the returning officer what they have to do as a candidate, but at the same time they clear with...

Ideally, the information would go to both bodies, because the candidate deals with the bureaucracy of the body of which they are a member and the returning officer. They clear with the returning officer what they have to do as a candidate, but at the same time they clear with...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. Looking through the explanatory notes at the list of quangos that have been set up relatively recently, one is bound to wonder, in several cases, whether they retain a justification to this day. I hope that some of those will be the subject...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. Looking through the explanatory notes at the list of quangos that have been set up relatively recently, one is bound to wonder, in several cases, whether they retain a justification to this day. I hope that some of those will be the subject...

I suspect that the hon. Gentleman might agree that for every quango there should be a regular test of continuing usefulness. That should also apply to international organisations, which often get set up and are then maintained by their own status rather than because of any continuing usefulness. When I...

I suspect that the hon. Gentleman might agree that for every quango there should be a regular test of continuing usefulness. That should also apply to international organisations, which often get set up and are then maintained by their own status rather than because of any continuing usefulness. When I...

I believe that the legislation concerning IPSA specifically exempts members of IPSA, so there will not be a need to update the schedule in that respect. Furthermore, as I mentioned in my speech, one of the reasons that some people are added to the list is that the legislation that...

I believe that the legislation concerning IPSA specifically exempts members of IPSA, so there will not be a need to update the schedule in that respect. Furthermore, as I mentioned in my speech, one of the reasons that some people are added to the list is that the legislation that...

I also have no problem supporting the motion. It is a sensible bit of housekeeping that we have to do every now and again to bring schedule 1 of the 1975 Act up to date. It is unfortunate that the schedule is out of date almost before it is printed....

I also have no problem supporting the motion. It is a sensible bit of housekeeping that we have to do every now and again to bring schedule 1 of the 1975 Act up to date. It is unfortunate that the schedule is out of date almost before it is printed....

The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point, but would it not be better to supply the information to a single point of contact, such as the returning officer at the relevant local authority, rather than circulate it among quangos, where it might be lost or, at least, unavailable when needed?

The hon. Gentleman makes an interesting point, but would it not be better to supply the information to a single point of contact, such as the returning officer at the relevant local authority, rather than circulate it among quangos, where it might be lost or, at least, unavailable when needed?

The schedule represents the consolidation of the list, which includes those who have been exempted in statute. Updating it is a necessary process, but there must be a better way of doing it. The hon. Gentleman is right to point out the huge number of quangos that exist. I take...

The schedule represents the consolidation of the list, which includes those who have been exempted in statute. Updating it is a necessary process, but there must be a better way of doing it. The hon. Gentleman is right to point out the huge number of quangos that exist. I take...