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MPs to ponder summer holiday cut | MPs to ponder summer holiday cut |
(about 2 hours later) | |
MPs have agreed to look at whether Parliament should meet in September - a month that currently forms part of their summer break. | |
Following a debate on plans put forward by the Wright Committee on Commons reforms, they also approved calls to cut the size of select committees. | Following a debate on plans put forward by the Wright Committee on Commons reforms, they also approved calls to cut the size of select committees. |
MPs agreed to a trial of debates on issues put forward by public petitions. | MPs agreed to a trial of debates on issues put forward by public petitions. |
Votes on some key issues were shelved until next week, including whether committee chairs should be elected. | Votes on some key issues were shelved until next week, including whether committee chairs should be elected. |
Expenses scandal | Expenses scandal |
In a concession, Commons leader Harriet Harman had supported a backbench move which would have handed some power over the scheduling of government business to a cross-party House Business Committee. | In a concession, Commons leader Harriet Harman had supported a backbench move which would have handed some power over the scheduling of government business to a cross-party House Business Committee. |
But Speaker John Bercow said this issue would also be voted on after a debate on March 4. | But Speaker John Bercow said this issue would also be voted on after a debate on March 4. |
The Wright Committee, chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright, was set up to improve the standing of the House in the wake of the expenses scandal. | The Wright Committee, chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright, was set up to improve the standing of the House in the wake of the expenses scandal. |
Ms Harman had hoped its "far-reaching package of reforms" would be go through "on the nod". | Ms Harman had hoped its "far-reaching package of reforms" would be go through "on the nod". |
But the proposal to elect select committee members by secret ballot rather than through the nomination of party whips was blocked by a single cry of "object" from the Labour backbenches and will also be debated and voted on on 4 March. | But the proposal to elect select committee members by secret ballot rather than through the nomination of party whips was blocked by a single cry of "object" from the Labour backbenches and will also be debated and voted on on 4 March. |
'Damaging storm' | 'Damaging storm' |
Shadow Commons leader Sir George Young questioned the "unorthodox" approach adopted by the government, which allowed a single MP to block any of the proposals and force further debate next week. | Shadow Commons leader Sir George Young questioned the "unorthodox" approach adopted by the government, which allowed a single MP to block any of the proposals and force further debate next week. |
Mr Wright said Parliament had been "battered by the most ferocious and damaging storm in its history" and there was "a massive enterprise of restoration and reconstruction to be undertaken". | Mr Wright said Parliament had been "battered by the most ferocious and damaging storm in its history" and there was "a massive enterprise of restoration and reconstruction to be undertaken". |
He told MPs: "Let nobody think that once we've attended to the expenses issue or had a general election, all will be well." | He told MPs: "Let nobody think that once we've attended to the expenses issue or had a general election, all will be well." |
For the Liberal Democrats, David Heath backed the reforms as "necessary" but said they were only a "small step in the right direction". | For the Liberal Democrats, David Heath backed the reforms as "necessary" but said they were only a "small step in the right direction". |
He said there ought to be a "tide of reform coming in" after having reached what was perhaps the "high water of executive power". | He said there ought to be a "tide of reform coming in" after having reached what was perhaps the "high water of executive power". |
MPs currently break up in early summer, not returning until October. Some argue this allows less scrutiny of government than should be the case. | MPs currently break up in early summer, not returning until October. Some argue this allows less scrutiny of government than should be the case. |
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