Functioning of Government Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office
Thursday 7th July 2022

(1 year, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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My hon. Friend makes a perfectly interesting point, but it is somewhat outside the range of my responsibilities.

Angela Eagle Portrait Dame Angela Eagle (Wallasey) (Lab)
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I have a list here of all the resignations from Government. I will not read them out, but there are plenty of tasty quotes in there that will be of use later on. The Minister cannot sensibly argue that we have a functioning Government when this number of people are missing. There are no Ministers to do statutory instrument Committees and legislation even as we speak. What is the way forward? He cannot just blather at the Dispatch Box when the Government are disintegrating around him.

Michael Ellis Portrait Michael Ellis
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The business of the House of Commons will continue. There are Ministers to continue in place. I cannot pre-empt the Prime Minister’s statement, but I have spoken to the Cabinet Secretary today and the Government and civil service will continue to function in their public duty.