"I think it is appropriate to decide the matter in this Parliament; that is what we are disagreeing about. All the motions that I am bringing forward are matters that, if not decided today, could not take effect in the next Parliament. That is their distinguishing characteristic...." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"I assure my right hon. Friend that all these issues arise, one way or another, from reports of the Procedure Committee. Last week’s Procedure Committee report called for one of these motions to be brought forward before Dissolution, and in 2011 the Procedure Committee recommended that this debate take place...." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"I have already explained why there was a change in the business. However, the right hon. Gentleman is quite right to say that it is very important that people should have confidence that any future election, in this House or elsewhere, is fair. I have no doubt that when we …..." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"I obviously disagree with the idea that it has come about from any grudges. Hon. Members on both sides of this House have asked for this debate to be held, and they are entitled to have a debate held. It is part of the job of the Leader of the …..." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"This Parliament has seen the greatest transfer of the parliamentary timetable from outside the Government’s control of any Parliament of modern times, with the establishment of the Backbench Business Committee as well as maintaining Opposition days. There has been historic reform, and I am sure that that trend will continue …..." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"It is for the House to decide on the merits of this. I do not think my right hon. Friend can argue that we are in anything other than prime time at the moment, since the House is well attended and this debate is receiving a great deal of attention. …..." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"I am always grateful to my hon. Friend, if I may call him that, for his observations, even if I do not agree with that particular one...." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"I think it is for me, rather than you, Mr Speaker, to answer that, since the questions are to me. My hon. Friend correctly quotes other passages of the report. Those are indeed issues that can be discussed in the debate that we are about to hold, and in the …..." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"I think that was a bit of mock outrage from the hon. Gentleman, if I may say so. The question of whether a vote in Parliament should be held by secret ballot cannot possibly be an attack on parliamentary democracy. It would, of course, in the view of those in …..." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech
"The House can come to its own decision about that. It can accept or reject the motions before it. It is up to the House to make its decision later today...." Lord Hague of Richmond - View Speech