4 The time allowed by the Government
for scrutiny of the Bill
Scrutiny by the House
43. The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies
Bill was presented to the House on 22 July, and received a Second
Reading on Monday 6 September. Our colleagues on the Political
and Constitutional Reform Committee have criticised the lack of
time given to scrutiny of the Bill, noting that there was "a
grand total of two clear sitting days in which to consider and
take evidence on the Bill before Second Reading".[37]
44. Professor Robert Hazell, Director of the Constitution
Unit at UCL, pointed out that the Bill was introduced without
any formal consultation in the form of Green or White papers,[38]
and the Rt Hon Paul Murphy MP believed that "the Government
is currently attempting to rush through these proposals at the
expense of proper scrutiny".[39]
45. Lewis Baston of Democratic Audit argued that
by proceeding so hastily in introducing this legislation, "it
seems to be an absolute priority to get the new boundaries in
place for 2015, rather than to get them right and to consider
some of the principles involved".[40]
John Turner, Chief Executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators,
reinforced this argument, referring to the "undue speed with
which the review is being carried out".[41]
46. The Minister sought to rebut this argument:
In terms of debate on the Floor of the House of Commons,
the Government think that we have allowed adequate time. The programme
motion agreed by the House on Second Reading set out five days
of debate in Committee. The motion that the House agreed this
week [12 October 2010] gave the House an extra six hours of debate
to make sure that on days when the House has statements, we protect
the time available for debate.[42]
47. The Welsh Grand Committee, comprising all MPs
representing constituencies in Wales, provides a forum for debates
relating to Wales. The Grand Committee can meet only when the
House directs it to do so. In effect, the Government decides when
there is a need for a meeting. On 15 September 2010, Rt Hon Paul
Murphy MP, former Secretary of State for Wales, made a request
to the current Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Mrs Cheryl
Gillan MP, to convene the Welsh Grand Committee. Unusually, the
request was refused.
48. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Wales, Mr David Jones MP, rejected the argument that more time
could have been given for consideration of the Government's proposals
either on the floor of the House or in a Welsh Grand Committee
and the Minister argued that the Secretary of State for Wales
"takes the view that there is ample time for consideration
on the Floor of the House of the clauses affecting Wales specifically".[43]
49. The
Government is determined to pass this legislation quickly in order
that the referendum on the Parliamentary electoral system can
take place in May 2011. However, we agree with the Political
and Constitutional Reform Committee that the Bill has been given
insufficient time for proper scrutiny.
50. The
Welsh Grand Committee gives all Welsh Members the opportunity
fully to debate issues relating to Wales. That the Parliamentary
Voting System and Constituencies Bill impacts significantly on
Wales is clear. In the light of this, we consider the Secretary
of State for Wales's decision not to convene a meeting of the
Welsh Grand Committee in this instance to be very disappointing.
37 Political and Constitutional Reform Committee, First
Report of Session 2010-11, Parliamentary Voting System and
Constituencies Bill, HC 422, Appendix 1 Back
38
The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill,
Research Paper 10/55, House of Commons Library, September 2001 Back
39
Ev 30 Back
40
Q 52 Back
41
Q 52 Back
42
Q 58 Back
43
Q 59 Back
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