Point of Order

John Bercow Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would be grateful for your advice about the business tomorrow. It is Friday business and until recently many colleagues were under the impression that the Second Reading of the HS2 Funding Referendum Bill, promoted by my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch (Mr Chope), was first on the list. I am surprised to see that the Report stage of the Local Government (Review of Decisions) Bill has now leapt ahead of it, and am concerned that we might not have the opportunity to debate the important Bill on the HS2 funding referendum. Can you advise me why the other business has now taken precedence?

[Mr Speaker]

The right hon. Lady raises a point of order of great concern to her and potentially to her constituents, but I am afraid, from her point of view, that the answer is straightforward. After the seventh Friday, Report stages take precedence over Second Readings of new Bills. The right hon. Lady might be disappointed by that, but what has happened is perfectly orderly. There has been—I know that she will be reassured by this—no machination. We shall leave it there.