– in the House of Commons at 4:29 pm on 24 February 2009.
Mark Pritchard
Conservative, The Wrekin
4:29,
24 February 2009
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. You will know the rules concerning the reporting of contingency liabilities: no contingent is allowed to proceed without examination if a Member of this House formally objects. Given that the Ministry of Defence suggests in a departmental minute dated
Michael Martin
Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
The hon. Gentleman has put the matter on the record, and I shall leave it at that.
Andrew MacKinlay
Labour, Thurrock
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I, too, have discovered that there are just two copies in existence of a Ministry of Defence departmental minute dated
"If, during the period of fourteen Parliamentary sitting days beginning on the date on which this Minute was laid before Parliament, a Member signifies an objection by giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or by otherwise raising the matter in Parliament, final approval to proceed with incurring the liability will be withheld".
I am raising this matter now. This sort of thing is happening too often and only two documents are being produced—it is sneaky and it has to stop.
Michael Martin
Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
The hon. Gentleman has put the matter on the record and, as I said previously, I shall leave it at that.
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