Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what recent discussions he has had on allowing the proxy voting system in the House of Commons to be extended during the covid-19 outbreak to include hon Members who also work as NHS clinicians.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
While proxy voting is ultimately a matter for the House, the Government does not intend to extend the scope of the pilot scheme. We of course owe a huge debt of gratitude to the NHS workforce, especially those who are also Members of Parliament. I hope the arrangements for remote voting, agreed by the House on 22 April 2020, will help support those Hon. Members who also work as NHS clinicians during the continuing hybrid procedures in Parliament.
However, the Government is aware that some of those Hon. Members working in the NHS may be unable to take part in the remote voting process. Therefore the Government will ensure that these MPs are paired, so their absence does not affect the outcome of any votes.
The Government is committed to listening carefully to the views of Members across the House, including those of the Procedure Committee, as we develop these new and temporary ways of working. However, it is the Government’s clear view that the current arrangements are temporary and the House will return to the normal tried and tested ways of working as soon as possible.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using alternative voting methods in the House of Commons during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer I gave him yesterday in response to question 29207.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has to introduce electronic voting in divisions; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The government supports the current voting arrangements and believes that they provide the necessary checks and balances to produce definitive and accurate results. Changes to voting procedures should only ever be taken forward once potential consequences have been fully thought through, where there is substantial support for change from across the House and where change is in the interests of enabling MPs to do a more effective job. The Government is of the view that votes should require Members to attend the division lobbies and is not persuaded that there is a need to introduce electronic voting.
Asked by: Dan Poulter (Conservative - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, what recent assessment he has made of the potential health implications relating to covid-19 of hon. Membes voting in the division lobbies.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
In view of the current circumstances, members have themselves taken steps to limit the frequency of divisions. As I said during the Business Questions on Thursday 12 March, voting in the Division Lobby is not considered a high risk (Hansard col. 434). The Government's approach relating to covid-19 is guided by the best scientific evidence and medical advice, and we will take all necessary measures to deal with this outbreak. I am engaging with the parliamentary authorities and any decisions will be taken in line with the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.