Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Hughes Excerpts

Thursday 25th April 2013 Commons Chamber

The Leader of the House was asked—

[Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD)]

1. what progress has been made on bringing forward proposals to set up a House business committee to consider Government business as set out in the coalition agreement.

[The Leader of the House of Commons (Mr Andrew Lansley)]

I continue to consider proposals and will be discussing some practical proposals to meet this challenge when I give evidence to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee next month.

[Simon Hughes]

Both coalition parties have a commitment to transfer more power over business from the Executive to Members of the House of Commons. Given that we made a commitment in the coalition agreement that this should happen by the third year of the Parliament, may I have a guarantee that, in this year—2013—and in the next, and third Session, that will be done?

[Mr Lansley]

The House will understand that any House business committee would need to add value to our existing processes. I hope that my right hon. Friend and others across the House will recognise that we have made substantial progress in that direction already in this Parliament, not least through the creation of the Backbench Business Committee. I want to make sure that we build on that and that it is not compromised, while meeting the requirement for responsive and effective business management and recognising—as the Wright Committee did—the opportunity for the Government to secure their legislative programme.