Debate on a motion that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 121 (Nomination of select committees), Mr John Denham be discharged from the Home Affairs Committee and Keith Vaz be added. Agreed on division (303 to 85)

Debate on a motion that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order No. 121 (Nomination of select committees), Mr John Denham be discharged from the Home Affairs Committee and Keith Vaz be added. Agreed on division (303 to 85)

That is because my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) was the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee.

That is because my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) was the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee.

Has the right hon. and learned Lady read the Standards and Privileges Committee’s fifth report of 2001-02? If she has not, I should like to refer her particularly to paragraph 51 onwards—I will not read it all, Mr. Deputy Speaker—which is headed, ““Wrongful interference with the investigation process””. The report...

Has the right hon. and learned Lady read the Standards and Privileges Committee’s fifth report of 2001-02? If she has not, I should like to refer her particularly to paragraph 51 onwards—I will not read it all, Mr. Deputy Speaker—which is headed, ““Wrongful interference with the investigation process””. The report...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that comment. I will conclude my remarks by saying that I accept that the process has been short-circuited. That is not the way I would have liked to proceed. However, that is entirely a result of the timing. It is in no way connected...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that comment. I will conclude my remarks by saying that I accept that the process has been short-circuited. That is not the way I would have liked to proceed. However, that is entirely a result of the timing. It is in no way connected...

Will the right hon. and learned Lady now answer my original question? When will the Home Affairs Committee meet between this Friday and Monday 8 October? What work does it propose to do during that time? Is she aware that the motion for the meeting tomorrow is solely to elect...

Will the right hon. and learned Lady now answer my original question? When will the Home Affairs Committee meet between this Friday and Monday 8 October? What work does it propose to do during that time? Is she aware that the motion for the meeting tomorrow is solely to elect...

I will have to find out whether the acting Chairman is drawing his additional salary.

I will have to find out whether the acting Chairman is drawing his additional salary.

I should like to thank the right hon. Gentleman, who is Chair of the Committee of Selection, and the other hon. Members who were prepared to make themselves available at very short notice. However, the process of choosing the name to put forward to the House obviously had to be...

I should like to thank the right hon. Gentleman, who is Chair of the Committee of Selection, and the other hon. Members who were prepared to make themselves available at very short notice. However, the process of choosing the name to put forward to the House obviously had to be...

Forgive me, but I think that a perusal of Hansard tomorrow will show that the Leader of the House referred not only to the issue of the chairmanship, but to the fact that a Select Committee needed the correct number of members if it was to do its work. In...

Forgive me, but I think that a perusal of Hansard tomorrow will show that the Leader of the House referred not only to the issue of the chairmanship, but to the fact that a Select Committee needed the correct number of members if it was to do its work. In...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing that out, and he is right: his point further punctures the bubble of the Leader of the House’s argument. In any case, the idea that there had to be such a motion in order for the change to be made, and...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing that out, and he is right: his point further punctures the bubble of the Leader of the House’s argument. In any case, the idea that there had to be such a motion in order for the change to be made, and...

A large part of the burden of the Leader of the House’s argument is that it is essential that the Home Affairs Committee should have its full complement of members, but have not at least two other Select Committees—the Select Committees on International Development and on Environmental Audit—also lost members...

A large part of the burden of the Leader of the House’s argument is that it is essential that the Home Affairs Committee should have its full complement of members, but have not at least two other Select Committees—the Select Committees on International Development and on Environmental Audit—also lost members...

Does my right hon. Friend accept that part of the Leader of the House’s argument is that it is important that the decision be taken today because the previous Chairman is now a Cabinet member? Her argument is that that is not right, and he should be removed. If that...

Does my right hon. Friend accept that part of the Leader of the House’s argument is that it is important that the decision be taken today because the previous Chairman is now a Cabinet member? Her argument is that that is not right, and he should be removed. If that...