Modernisation of the House of Commons

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:45 pm on 29 October 2002.

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Photo of Eric Forth Eric Forth Conservative, Bromley and Chislehurst 3:45, 29 October 2002

I shall give way in a moment, but I want to move on.

The debate illustrates—as it needs to do—our approach to our role in this place and, equally important, how we see the role of Parliament and of the House of Commons vis-á-vis the Government of the day. I do not see this place as a legislative factory and I do not believe that we should measure ourselves by the ease with which the Government get their way—quite the opposite. My avowed intention in this place is to make life as difficult as possible for the Government in order to try to ensure that what they do is properly scrutinised and that they are properly held to account.