Clause 6 - Combination of polls
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
6:15 pm
Mr Christopher Leslie (Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office; Shipley, Labour)
We are discussing whether to publish advice from the Electoral Commission. We believe that it should be up to the commission whether to publish; there should not necessarily be anything in statute.
The hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge asked about the possibility of future Administrations deciding not to enshrine a right for the commission to publish its own advice. He suggested that such a possibility was a reason for enshrining that right in law. No Parliament can bind its successors. It would be peculiar if we tried today to prevent a future Administration from making decisions as they would normally do.
I am surprised by some of the amendments, but I am getting used to the idea of probing amendments. Amendment No. 26, tabled by the Liberal Democrats, is on the combination of polls. The amendment seeks to ensure that advice that is sought from regional chambers should be published. I cannot see what particular expertise regional chambers could offer on the combination of polls. I can see why the expertise of the Electoral Commission would be sought on that subject, but not that of the regional chambers. The hon. Member for Ludlow spoke about the advice of Army officers. The argument for that is just as legitimate as that for the regional chambers. Many
of the chambers are not yet incorporated bodies and the practical effect of amendment No. 26 would be to require the Government to consult every member of a regional chamber. I do not want to dwell on technical issues, but there are broader principles to consider. We have established the Electoral Commission in a way that allows it to make its own decisions. I urge hon. Members to withdraw their amendments.