Private Members’ Bills Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Private Members’ Bills

Helen Goodman Excerpts
Tuesday 25th October 2016

(7 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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In the light of the Procedure Committee’s recommendations, I would be genuinely interested in whether my hon. Friend’s suggestion represents the view of the House as a whole, or whether more Members feel that they might lose out through the abolition of the lottery, which very many Back-Bench Members in all parts of the House prize as a great annual occasion.

Helen Goodman Portrait Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)
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When I was briefly Deputy Leader of the House, I had responsibility for private Members’ Bills. I found that, in practice, it was not Ministers in other Departments who were opposed to them, but officials in the Cabinet Office who did not want to devote the time to the briefings. The right hon. Gentleman has the opportunity to be a reforming Leader of the House and to improve on the performance of his recent successors—will he take it?

David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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We shall consider all the recommendations of the Committee and respond within the timescale that the House usually expects.