Draft Financial Services Bill (Joint Committee)

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts

Monday 18th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jones]

Without wanting to be diverted by my right hon. Friend, I certainly do agree with the hon. Gentleman about defence expenditure and the shambles that this Government are making of defence, but I shall not digress to that.

It is important that we get this right, so I do not think that having 1 December is right. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that the Committee will change the date if it wishes.

We must look at what is being put forward. The motion states that the Committee shall have five powers:

“to send for persons, papers and records; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; to report from time to time; to appoint special advisers; and to adjourn from place to place within the United Kingdom.”

I will go through each of those because they are relevant to the work of the Committee. On the power to send for persons, papers and records—

[The Comptroller of Her Majesty's Household (Mr Alistair Carmichael)]

claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).

Question put forthwith, That the Question be now put.

Business of the House (Thursday)

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts

Wednesday 8th December 2010 Commons Chamber

[Paul Farrelly]

rose—

[The Comptroller of Her Majesty's Household (Mr Alistair Carmichael)]

claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).

Question put forthwith, That the Question be now put.

The House proceeded to a Division.

[Mr Speaker]

I ask the Serjeant at Arms to investigate the delay in the No Lobby.

Points of Order

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts

Monday 8th November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

In a moment. Patience is a great virtue. I could not possibly miss the hon. Gentleman.

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)]

Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker. The House will have noted your most helpful statement concerning the finding of the court that the election result in Oldham East and Saddleworth was void. Will you confirm, for the benefit of the House, that that means that there is currently no Member elected here to serve the people of Oldham East and Saddleworth? What assurance can you give the House and the people of that constituency that they will not be denied indefinitely, by untested legal proceedings, the representation to which they are entitled?

[Mr Speaker]

The hon. Gentleman, for whose point of order I am grateful, essentially raises two points. The answer to his first point is yes, as indicated in my statement when I referred to the need for Mr Woolas to vacate his seat from the date of the report, 5 November 2010. The answer to his second point is that of course I attach a premium, as I am sure the House as a whole will attach a premium, to a speedy resolution of the matter in the interests of Parliament, in the interests of Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency electorate, and in the interests of the country.

It is precisely because I attach such a premium that I thought it would help the House if I caused inquiries to be made of the administrative court as to the urgency with which a judicial review application would be treated. Therefore, I reiterate both for the benefit of the hon. Gentleman and for all Members of the House that I did, indeed, cause such inquiries to be made, and I was advised that the administrative court judge has ordered an expedited hearing of the renewed application. He has done so precisely because he, too, considers it essential that the electorate of Oldham East and Saddleworth should know who is their Member of Parliament as soon as possible. I hope that is helpful to all with an interest in the matter.

Use of the Chamber (United Kingdom Youth Parliament)

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts

Tuesday 20th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Philip Davies]

If the hon. Lady does not want to—

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD) claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).]

Question put forthwith,

That the Question be now put.