Business Statement

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:43 pm on 9 May 2001.

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Photo of Margaret Beckett Margaret Beckett Chair, Modernisation of the House of Commons Committee, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Privy Council Office) 3:43, 9 May 2001

Few parliamentary ends were more evidence of that than the end of the last Parliament.

Although it ran until the last possible date, at the close of the Session it was necessary for the Government to deal with some 16 pieces of legislation—substantially more than we shall need to deal with this time.

It is, I fear, a feature of our system that it is always necessary to deal with things in this way. I reject the suggestion that we are attempting to steamroller legislation through —we are allowing time for proper consideration—although I share the hon. Gentleman's regret about the stonewalling of the International Development Bill, which I find wholly inexplicable.