European Scrutiny (Standing Orders)

Part of Deferred Division – in the House of Commons at 6:58 pm on 12 November 2008.

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Photo of David Heathcoat-Amory David Heathcoat-Amory Conservative, Wells 6:58, 12 November 2008

My hon. Friend makes a constructive suggestion; he has lengthy experience on the Committee. What is true is that, currently, we treat the public with contempt. They read and are told that our proceedings at some point—the phrase is "when convenient"—will be opened to the public. But that is for our convenience, not that of the public. My hon. Friend Mr. Hands gave us an example of when they do turn up. A constituent wrote to him, saying that he had gone to the Committee and had had to wait half an hour or an hour before being admitted. On more than one occasion, we have actually moved to consider a draft report and put back by another half an hour the time at which the public can be admitted. This is not our Parliament, however. The public sent us here, they pay our salary, this is a democracy and they ought to come first. They ought to be permitted, allowed, encouraged, indeed, to watch what we try to do on their behalf. The importance is obvious, and the point has already been made that more than half the legislation in this country originates from the European Union. Even the Government admit to that figure, but I believe that it is higher than that. The dominant influence on our legislation and regulations comes from the European Union.