Procedure and Privileges Committee
Debate between Lord Watson of Invergowrie and Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
Lord Watson of Invergowrie (Lab)
My Lords, I speak as the chair of the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, and I want to put on the record that I very much approve of the suggested additional day on Tuesdays specifically for delegated legislation. It is important that delegated legislation is given the stature that it deserves, and I think this will be a popular addition to the abilities of Members of your Lordships’ House to discuss delegated legislation. I note that it is only for a trial period initially, but I feel sure that it will be adopted on a permanent basis at the end of that period, which I would very much welcome.
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)
My Lords, I rise to express some concern about paragraph 16 of the report, under “Proposals relating to Delegated Legislation”, on time-limiting debates to 60, or possibly 90, minutes. For the sake of clarity, I wish to know whether that also applies when there is a regret or fatal Motion—I am getting a nod from the Chief Whip—or, indeed, both regret and fatal Motions, or sometimes multiple regret and fatal Motions. At this point, I guess all I can do is ask the usual channels to assure us that they will appropriately use that possibility of extension—I am getting a nod here, too, which I am putting on the record.
I am thinking back to the debate, which I am sure many noble Lords will remember, in the name of my noble friend Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb regarding the proscription of Palestine Action. From memory, that debate took three or four hours, engaged very many Members of your Lordships’ House and was a very serious issue for the country.
It is terribly important. We are seeing, and we hear many times, the problem with Henry VIII powers and the way in which the Government are using delegated legislation, instead of full legislation that we can debate and amend. This could very much be seen as a way to shut down debate on really important issues on which there is great concern in the House. I want to put that on the record and say that we will certainly be watching this very closely.