Clause 10 - Procedure: introductory
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
4:00 pm
Jim Murphy (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Cabinet Office; East Renfrewshire, Labour)
I am more of a DVD man. However, from what I hear nobody could accuse you of not having stood by your friends or your principles in your appearance. I was delayed by virtue of the fact that I had to travel to Glasgow, so was not able to watch the programme.
I had commenced my comments on clause 10 stand part, and on amendments Nos. 52, 53 and 54, which were tabled by the hon. Member for Cambridge (David Howarth). The clause introduces the procedural requirements that apply to all orders. An order cannot be made unless all those requirements are met. The procedural requirements introduced by the clause are as follows. First, all orders must be made by statutory instrument. Secondly, the Minister must consult in accordance with the requirements of clause 11 and, after consultation, must lay a draft order and explanatory document before Parliament in accordance with the requirements of clause 12. Finally, the order must be made in accordance with one of the three types of parliamentary procedure provided for in the Bill, and we shall discuss those under later clauses.
Without seeking to reinterpret the words of the hon. Member for Cambridge, I would describe amendments Nos. 53 and 54 as an attempt to define or describe a veto. The hon. Gentleman is aware that we made a commitment in an earlier sitting of this Committee to include a veto in the Bill, and it is important that we do so. The Government will make a specific proposal based on that principle before we debate the issue on Report. I know that that commitment has reassured a number of Committee members. That being the case, I invite the hon. Gentleman to withdraw the amendment.