Does my hon. Friend agree that we should base our working year on our constituents' working year, and that there is absolutely no reason why we should have such incredibly long holidays?

Does my hon. Friend agree that we should base our working year on our constituents' working year, and that there is absolutely no reason why we should have such incredibly long holidays?

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, but it is more a rebalancing of two distinct roles: that of the Executive—who have a role of their own in proposing legislation, imposing taxation and taking action on behalf of this country—and that of this House. The two are often confused, but...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, but it is more a rebalancing of two distinct roles: that of the Executive—who have a role of their own in proposing legislation, imposing taxation and taking action on behalf of this country—and that of this House. The two are often confused, but...

Certainly not. He is first, foremost and always a democrat. In the excellent speech in which he effectively introduced the motion—I hope the Leader of the House will forgive me for saying that—my hon. Friend said, "We are nearly there." The question is, who are the "we" and where is...

Certainly not. He is first, foremost and always a democrat. In the excellent speech in which he effectively introduced the motion—I hope the Leader of the House will forgive me for saying that—my hon. Friend said, "We are nearly there." The question is, who are the "we" and where is...

I do agree. The interesting thing about the report is that it tends to concentrate on structures. They are a necessary and vital first step in achieving reform, but they are not in themselves sufficient. We will also have to change the culture of this place if we are to...

I do agree. The interesting thing about the report is that it tends to concentrate on structures. They are a necessary and vital first step in achieving reform, but they are not in themselves sufficient. We will also have to change the culture of this place if we are to...

I am not entirely sure which Parliaments my hon. Friend has been a Member of if she really thinks that this is a Parliament of free and independent minds. She seems to have lived through a different Parliament than the one that I have lived through. We are on the...

I am not entirely sure which Parliaments my hon. Friend has been a Member of if she really thinks that this is a Parliament of free and independent minds. She seems to have lived through a different Parliament than the one that I have lived through. We are on the...

We could go on with interesting hypotheses, but the hon. Gentleman makes a good point.

We could go on with interesting hypotheses, but the hon. Gentleman makes a good point.

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris), and to pay tribute to the part that he has played in getting us where we are today. He played an enormous part in ensuring that the amendment was tabled, and in working so...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris), and to pay tribute to the part that he has played in getting us where we are today. He played an enormous part in ensuring that the amendment was tabled, and in working so...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, as I do on so many occasions. The importance of local party democracy is central. Although throughout this debate we have identified the importance of this House in holding the Government to account, the other thrust, which we have perhaps not discussed enough,...

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend, as I do on so many occasions. The importance of local party democracy is central. Although throughout this debate we have identified the importance of this House in holding the Government to account, the other thrust, which we have perhaps not discussed enough,...

If the hon. Gentleman is making a case for the separation of powers between the Executive and the legislature, as happens under the American political system, he would find certain Members of the House—including some members of the Committee—most sympathetic. However, I believe that separating powers will bring more problems....

If the hon. Gentleman is making a case for the separation of powers between the Executive and the legislature, as happens under the American political system, he would find certain Members of the House—including some members of the Committee—most sympathetic. However, I believe that separating powers will bring more problems....

We are probably going rather wide of the subject. However, I have great sympathy with my hon. Friend's view. Indeed, one necessary aspect of that would not be the strengthening of citizens advice, desirable though that would be, but a strengthening of local government, which has lost much of its...

We are probably going rather wide of the subject. However, I have great sympathy with my hon. Friend's view. Indeed, one necessary aspect of that would not be the strengthening of citizens advice, desirable though that would be, but a strengthening of local government, which has lost much of its...

I agree with all of that. I see no reason why the House needs more than 400 Members. We would probably do a better job if fewer of us were focusing our attention on our work. The report was about rebuilding the House, not about casting a new constitutional settlement,...

I agree with all of that. I see no reason why the House needs more than 400 Members. We would probably do a better job if fewer of us were focusing our attention on our work. The report was about rebuilding the House, not about casting a new constitutional settlement,...

Yes, but those roles are not alternatives. It is the fascination, complexity and difficulty of our job that we are, quite rightly, expected to do both. We have to be very involved with our communities, respond to them and learn from them. All of our e-mails and mail bags are...

Yes, but those roles are not alternatives. It is the fascination, complexity and difficulty of our job that we are, quite rightly, expected to do both. We have to be very involved with our communities, respond to them and learn from them. All of our e-mails and mail bags are...

That is self-evident. Those of us who think that we personally are being elected will find when we stand for re-election, in May or June or whenever it is, that it is our party that will be re-elected. Of course, the hon. Lady is absolutely right. We are sent here...

That is self-evident. Those of us who think that we personally are being elected will find when we stand for re-election, in May or June or whenever it is, that it is our party that will be re-elected. Of course, the hon. Lady is absolutely right. We are sent here...

One of the really impressive things about this report, which reflects well on the Chairman and the all-party members of the Committee, is that the Committee did not allow itself to get diverted by micro-matters such as that—important though they are. It kept to the high ground of what the...

One of the really impressive things about this report, which reflects well on the Chairman and the all-party members of the Committee, is that the Committee did not allow itself to get diverted by micro-matters such as that—important though they are. It kept to the high ground of what the...

I hope that I have made it clear. The time that is properly the Government's is the time that they need to get through the programme on which they were elected and have a mandate for from the public. They have to introduce legislation and have it scrutinised and enacted....

I hope that I have made it clear. The time that is properly the Government's is the time that they need to get through the programme on which they were elected and have a mandate for from the public. They have to introduce legislation and have it scrutinised and enacted....

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman; that point goes to the heart of this report. However, I do not think that these things are necessarily great sticking points. One can look at other countries and other legislatures and see that they find a way of negotiating between all parts...

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman; that point goes to the heart of this report. However, I do not think that these things are necessarily great sticking points. One can look at other countries and other legislatures and see that they find a way of negotiating between all parts...

I must say that I do not entirely agree with my hon. Friend. It is our job to scrutinise Government and therefore the time and the manner in which we scrutinise Government—either the scrutiny of Government Departments by Select Committees, or the scrutiny of Government legislation by Public Bill Committees—is...

I must say that I do not entirely agree with my hon. Friend. It is our job to scrutinise Government and therefore the time and the manner in which we scrutinise Government—either the scrutiny of Government Departments by Select Committees, or the scrutiny of Government legislation by Public Bill Committees—is...

Well, I think that the hon. Gentleman makes his point.

Well, I think that the hon. Gentleman makes his point.

I shall come to that later, but of course the hon. Gentleman is right. Nevertheless, pending what happens to the report, the Government deserve some credit. We have been hoping for and arguing for such a report for the 26 years during which I have been a Member of the...

I shall come to that later, but of course the hon. Gentleman is right. Nevertheless, pending what happens to the report, the Government deserve some credit. We have been hoping for and arguing for such a report for the 26 years during which I have been a Member of the...