Power to Give Financial Assistance

Part of Clause 50 – in the House of Commons at 6:30 pm on 14 June 1988.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Clive Soley Mr Clive Soley , Hammersmith 6:30, 14 June 1988

The hon. Gentleman must wait; I am not giving way.

In making the other changes, the Government made the fatal error of including major changes which would affect the procedures of the House. The Minister can confirm that I was on the telephone to his office last Thursday to say that I was worried about the changes. On Friday I said that there was no way that I would co-operate on the time scale that we had agreed of three and a half days but that if he gave me an extra day to debate the new clauses, making the total time four and a half days, I would accept that. Even today I offered that again, but the offer was rejected by the Government.

If there are to be new clauses and amendments of constitutional importance, and if they are to be considered without going through Committee, is it not reasonable to ask that that period should be given on the Floor of the House to consider what would otherwise have been considered in Committee?