The implications for Wales of the Government's proposals on constitutional reform - Welsh Affairs Committee Contents


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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Prepared 25 October 2010