TB 01 (2008-09)

 

Memorandum submitted by John Redwood MP

 

I object strongly to timetabling bills.

I suggest the procedure should be a negotiation through the usual channels to see if a timetable can be agreed for each Bill. If it can the government could agree not to timetable one, but could if it was clear the Opposition was unable to deliver the timetable subsequently table one unilaterally.

If no timetable could be agreed then the government would have to decide whether to table one at the beginning and have the argument about the shortage of time then, or whether to see how things worked out before timetabling. Time spent on the timetable motion should not be taken out of time needed to consider the measure.

Governments should have to go through more extensive Report stages where extensive rewriting of the Bill occurred at that stage.

 

May 2009