Letter from Ann Coffey MP (M5)
TIMING OF
VOTES
Programming, when originally proposed by the
Modernisation Committee, was supported by Members who believed
that this would give some predictability to business and enable
them to plan better in response to conflicting demands on their
time.
At the moment the votes are predictable on a
2nd Reading, on an opposition day or on any other business which
is concluded at the end of the day. For other business on which
there can be votes, although timed on the Order Paper, there is
unpredictability as statements and urgent questions can change
the timing of business. Members will not have this information
in advance.
Report Stages mean a running whip. Even when
there are "knives" there is often uncertainty about
whether there will be a vote. In such circumstances it is difficult
to effectively manage time.
To overcome this I would propose that we look
at a set time each day when votes will be taken which would be
called the "decision time".
I would propose that Members would go through
the Lobby once and record their votes for the main business and
any consequential motions.
This would be fairly straightforward for most
business, however, it is the report stages of bills that are the
most difficult as although many amendments are called not all
are voted on. If we are to have a voting time at the end of business
then we need to know by the decision time what amendments are
to be voted on in order to print the voting paper. There are serious
practical difficulties with this, particularly if we use a paper
system as we do for deferred divisions. There are also difficulties
with 2nd Readings and other straightforward business if Members
wish to keep debate, vote and result together although I would
point out that deferred voting has not had the dire consequences
predicted by some.
Instead of having a paper division the alternative
would be to vote electronically in the Lobby.
The advantage of this would be that information
about amendments to be called for a vote could be transferred
immediately to the terminals in the Lobby and there would not
need to be any delays for information to be printed and for the
tellers to announce the results.
This would necessitate the separation of Report
Stage from 3rd Reading which could take place the next day. This
already happens in the Lords.
The Committee did agree in its last Report to
look further into e-voting particularly as technology has moved
on since the committee last considered the subject.
November 2006
|