The Leader of the House has written to representatives of the other parties on this issue. The Government are keen to proceed on a consensual basis.
UK politics has become ever more the private playground of Governments and the media, and this place, Parliament, an ever more tatty backdrop, with little independence. Will the Prime Minister take the powers that he has to bring forward to our agenda—not for debate, but for decision—the proposals to reform this House? Will he please do that in the next few weeks?
It is in all our interests to say that both the standard of debate in this House and what is discussed in this House should reflect the views and values of the people of this whole country. All of us want in this new year to make sure that the House is discussing the issues that matter to people.
We welcome the Select Committee report. I know that my hon. Friend has taken a long-standing interest in these institutional reforms. The creation of a Back-Bench committee, a business committee and party ballots—all these are being looked at in detail. The Leader of the House has made it clear that we will have an opportunity to debate them in due course and to discuss the recommendations.
In due course? We have been waiting for weeks. Is that not typical of this Government and this Prime Minister? He made a big announcement on 10 June last year that we were to have urgent reform of the House of Commons, but when it comes to action the Government act with all the dispatch of a particularly arthritic slug on its way to its own funeral. Will he tell us whether he is still committed to urgent action on reforming this ineffective and incompetent House, or are there people on his own Benches who are stopping that from happening?
The hon. Gentleman gives me a great deal of hope that the consensual approach will work! I think that he is part of the talks. The talks are taking place. The issues about the creation of a business committee, party ballots for Select Committee membership and ballots of the whole House for Select Committee chairmanship were recommended by the Committee chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Dr. Wright). We are now discussing these issues, and they will form the subject of a debate and decisions by this House.
Order. I should be grateful if Members who are leaving the Chamber would do so both quickly and quietly so that we can proceed with our business.
Bills presented
Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (No.2)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, Mr. David Anderson, Mr. Michael Clapham, Mike Gapes, Rob Marris, Siobhan McDonagh, Jim Sheridan, Shona McIsaac, Mr. Chris Mullin and Judy Mallaber, presented a Bill to provide that certain asbestos-related conditions are actionable personal injuries; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 5 February, and to be printed (Bill 34).
Employers’ Liability Insurance Bureau
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin, Mike Gapes, Rob Marris, Siobhan McDonagh, Jim Sheridan, Shona McIsaac, Mr. Chris Mullin and Judy Mallaber presented a Bill to make provision for the creation of an employers’ liability insurance bureau comprising an electronic database and a fund of last resort; to make provision about employers’ liability insurance; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 5 February, and to be printed (Bill 35).
Land Use (Gardens Protection Etc)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin, Shona McIsaac, Rob Marris, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Siobhan McDonagh and Mr. Chris Mullin, presented a Bill to make provision for the protection of gardens and urban green spaces; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 26 February, and to be printed (Bill 36).
British Museum Act 1963 (Amendment)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin, Mr. Edward O’Hara and Rob Marris, presented a Bill to amend the British Museum Act 1963 to permit the transfer of artefacts in the British Museum; to confer powers on the Secretary of State to require the transfer of artefacts in specified circumstances; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 26 February, and to be printed (Bill 37).
Sheltered Accommodation (Residents)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Judy Mallaber, Mike Gapes, Rob Marris, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Mr. Edward Timpson, John Austin and Shona McIsaac, presented a Bill to make provision for residents in sheltered accommodation to challenge certain local authority budget decisions which affect them; to ensure that funding provided by central government to local authorities for sheltered accommodation warden services is not allocated to other services; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 5 March, and to be printed (Bill 38).
Human Rights Act 1998 (Meaning of Public Authority)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin, Mike Gapes, Rob Marris, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Shona McIsaac, Mr. Chris Mullin and Judy Mallaber presented a Bill to clarify the meaning of ‘public authority’ in section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 5 March, and to be printed (Bill 39).
Illegally Logged Timber (Prohibition of Sale)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin, Mike Gapes, Rob Marris, Mr. Chris Mullin, Judy Mallaber and Barry Gardiner, presented a Bill to prohibit the sale in the United Kingdom of timber and wood products that were obtained or produced illegally in their country of origin; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 12 March, and to be printed (Bill 40).
Torture (Damages)
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin, Rob Marris, Siobhan McDonagh and Mr. Chris Mullin, presented a Bill to make provision for actions for damages for torture; and for connected purposes.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 23 April, and to be printed (Bill 41).
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by Ms Karen Buck, Clive Efford, John Austin and Rob Marris, presented a Bill to introduce a national day to learn about and remember the Armenian genocide.
Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 30 April, and to be printed (Bill 42).