Examination of Witness (Questions 300-304)
RT HON
JACK STRAW
MP
4 JULY 2006
Q300 Keith Vaz: So, you have changed
your mind since then?
Mr Straw: Yes. I was and remain
against an all-elected chamber. I have no visceral feeling about
a mixed chamber, but you will remember how the voting went.
Q301 Chairman: I remember how the
Prime Minister proceeded at the time.
Mr Straw: I had just got off a
plane.
Q302 Chairman: You followed the Prime
Minister. To see him go into the lobby was such a rare sight that
you decided to join him?
Mr Straw: Chairman, though my
respect and admiration for the Prime Minister knows no bounds,
give me the credit of suggesting that I made up my own mind in
voting on the issue.
Q303 James Brokenshire: You referred
to consultation. What is the current timetable that you are working
towards in terms of consultation and then action?
Mr Straw: I am working towards
the turn of the year which would fit in with the timescale for
the Joint Committee. The original resolution passed on 10 May
to report by the Summer Recess, i.e. three weeks' time, was unrealistic
given the point at which it was appointed. A resolution has already
been through the Lords, which I believe is due to be voted on
by the House of Commons tomorrow, to agree an extension to the
end of this session, which is late October or early November,
for the Joint Committee. My aim is to produce a White Paper at
the turn of the year on composition which will obviously take
account of the Committee's report. As to consultation, the Lord
Chancellor had a working party or informal group of representatives
of the other two main political parties, cross-benchers and bishops,
and I am continuing that. We have a programme of meetings and
work to see whether we can find a consensus. My opinion is that
after all these years of going round and round the track and examining
it we have to make a decision. Either we go for a reform which
will not be perfect or what everybody wants but it will be a change
that perhaps can stand for 30 or 40 years or both parliamentary
and public patience will be exhausted and people will want to
move on, so I need to give it my best shot.
Q304 Chairman: I should have declared
an interest in this part of the discussion because my wife is
a Member of the House of Lords. I am sorry that I failed to do
so.
Mr Straw: We probably all aspire
to go there, so that is a bigger interest.
Chairman: I thank our witness and colleagues
in enabling the Committee to get through this session. The vote
has not yet occurred but I believe it will be fairly soon. We
are very glad to see you and expect to discuss this matter with
you again at a later date.
| 
