Robert Smith

The Leader of the House says that she will keep the case for a debate on Afghanistan under review, but what criteria will she use to make her final decision that there should be a debate, given that there are so many developments in that country? Will she assure the House that in her review she will make sure that the House has the time for a focused debate on Afghanistan before we rise for the Christmas recess?

— from debate entitled “Business of the House”

The three speeches/headings immediately before

  1. 1 earlier: Harriet Harman

    I am sorry, but when the hon. Gentleman started talking about "The X Factor" I could not work out how that related to the important task of making sure that Europe has a clear and coherent voice. We must play a central part in that and we await the outcome today.

  2. 2 earlier: Nigel Evans

    Sadly, the debate on European affairs on 3 December will not give us an opportunity to talk about the future President of the European Council because a decision on that is likely to be made today. None of us here has been given a vote, so surely there is a lack of democracy in the process. Does the Leader of the House not believe that it is rather bizarre that more people are interested in the futures of John and Edward from "The X Factor" than they are in someone who will have an impact on how we in this country are governed?

  3. 3 earlier: Harriet Harman

    As my hon. Friend knows, because he has championed the issue of animal welfare, we have a very good record and very high standards of protecting animals in scientific research, but we also place a very high value on scientific research, which can make a massive difference to alleviating disease and saving lives. The important thing is to enable that research to proceed without causing unnecessary suffering to animals. I wonder which aspect of the Queen's Speech debate might lend itself to that-I guess it would be either the business or the Home Office aspect.

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