Oral Answers to Questions

Peter Bone Excerpts

Tuesday 24th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

The right hon. Gentleman —unusually—makes a fair point. We do need to get these rules into place in good time, and we will be working with the Electoral Commission at all levels to make sure that the rules are available to everybody who wants to participate in these elections in good time so that they can be held in the proper way.

[Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)]

9. What representations he has received on the application of the Salisbury convention to legislative proposals relating to political and constitutional reform.

[The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Nick Clegg)]

I have received no representations on this subject.

[Mr Bone]

The Deputy Prime Minister is well known for his love of Parliament and democracy. Perhaps no representations have been made because there is no question of the Parliament Acts being invoked at any time during this period of government because no single party was elected to government.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

The hon. Gentleman’s question is about the Salisbury convention, which is one of many conventions that entrench the relationship between the other place and the House of Commons. The Parliament Acts are also vital in that regard. We have no intention of altering either the Acts or the convention.