No, they are saying that the person is not guilty, according to the criminal law. As happens very often in employment law, an acquittal will not exempt the individual from appropriate proceedings under employment legislation and the contract of their employment, because the standard of proof is lower, as everyone...

No, they are saying that the person is not guilty, according to the criminal law. As happens very often in employment law, an acquittal will not exempt the individual from appropriate proceedings under employment legislation and the contract of their employment, because the standard of proof is lower, as everyone...

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the Committee what discussions took place with the trustees of the parliamentary pension fund and others before these amendments were tabled?

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the Committee what discussions took place with the trustees of the parliamentary pension fund and others before these amendments were tabled?

The Secretary of State is now paying 12 per cent., but in addition, for the next three months, he will be making backdated payments equivalent to £200 a month, because we changed our pension scheme on 1 April last year and the changes are coming into force in the last...

The Secretary of State is now paying 12 per cent., but in addition, for the next three months, he will be making backdated payments equivalent to £200 a month, because we changed our pension scheme on 1 April last year and the changes are coming into force in the last...

My hon. Friend has fought a successful campaign and deserves credit for his diligence and persistence, but he should give the whole picture. I do not know what my right hon. Friend the Justice Secretary said, but we have always talked about the principle behind this issue, and my hon....

My hon. Friend has fought a successful campaign and deserves credit for his diligence and persistence, but he should give the whole picture. I do not know what my right hon. Friend the Justice Secretary said, but we have always talked about the principle behind this issue, and my hon....

There are a lot of new clauses and new schedules in this group, but on this occasion I have a better explanation for that than is often the case, and it is as follows. The Committee will recall—in technicolour—how important it was for us to reach agreement before the summer...

There are a lot of new clauses and new schedules in this group, but on this occasion I have a better explanation for that than is often the case, and it is as follows. The Committee will recall—in technicolour—how important it was for us to reach agreement before the summer...

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some clarification on that point? The Government appear not to intend to make the kind of changes to the ministerial code that I would welcome. Will he make a commitment on behalf of the Conservative party that, if it were to form...

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some clarification on that point? The Government appear not to intend to make the kind of changes to the ministerial code that I would welcome. Will he make a commitment on behalf of the Conservative party that, if it were to form...

I will not return to that point now. Will the Secretary of State kindly say what will be the arrangements for the staff of Members of Parliament, whether there will be guidance, and whether we will know the change in scales by April, when many of our staff will be...

I will not return to that point now. Will the Secretary of State kindly say what will be the arrangements for the staff of Members of Parliament, whether there will be guidance, and whether we will know the change in scales by April, when many of our staff will be...

May I thank all right hon. and hon. Members who have contributed to this important debate. I hope that its conclusion on Report will be provisions in the Parliamentary Standards Act as amended that will ensure that the new system of parliamentary pay, allowances and pensions command the respect of...

May I thank all right hon. and hon. Members who have contributed to this important debate. I hope that its conclusion on Report will be provisions in the Parliamentary Standards Act as amended that will ensure that the new system of parliamentary pay, allowances and pensions command the respect of...

I sense a peroration. The Secretary of State will recognise that a number of questions have been asked that he has not had time to answer, such as questions on the costs of the arrangements before us and about a number of areas where the amendments go way beyond what...

I sense a peroration. The Secretary of State will recognise that a number of questions have been asked that he has not had time to answer, such as questions on the costs of the arrangements before us and about a number of areas where the amendments go way beyond what...

Is not a consequence of the Government's dithering over the need to introduce statutory provisions the fact that the new clauses and schedules have arrived very late in the day for us to scrutinise, to ensure that they are as effective as possible?

Is not a consequence of the Government's dithering over the need to introduce statutory provisions the fact that the new clauses and schedules have arrived very late in the day for us to scrutinise, to ensure that they are as effective as possible?

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution (No. 2) agreed to on question. Ways and Means resolution (No. 2) agreed to on question. Programme motion (No. 5) varying order of proceedings in Committee agreed to on division (246 votes to 187). Committee stage fifth day. New clause 70, discussed with Government new clauses 71 to 84, new clause 87, and Government new schedules 6 to 9, debated and agreed to. New clauses 71 to 84 agreed to. New schedules 6 to 9 agreed to. New clause 85, discussed with Government new clause 86, new clauses 52 to 55, debated and agreed to. New clause 86 agreed to.

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution (No. 2) agreed to on question. Ways and Means resolution (No. 2) agreed to on question. Programme motion (No. 5) varying order of proceedings in Committee agreed to on division (246 votes to 187). Committee stage fifth day. New clause...

Any new code of conduct would be the property of an incoming Prime Minister, who would devise his own code of conduct and guidance. I think I am right in saying that a previous Conservative Prime Minister was the first to publish the code of guidance for Ministers. If the...

Any new code of conduct would be the property of an incoming Prime Minister, who would devise his own code of conduct and guidance. I think I am right in saying that a previous Conservative Prime Minister was the first to publish the code of guidance for Ministers. If the...

I shall start at the point with which the right hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir George Young) ended. I shared his frustration and sense of disbelief when Ministers told us, following the publication of the Kelly report, that no statutory changes would be required as a consequence. The fact...

I shall start at the point with which the right hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir George Young) ended. I shared his frustration and sense of disbelief when Ministers told us, following the publication of the Kelly report, that no statutory changes would be required as a consequence. The fact...

The hon. Gentleman makes a forceful point. I can see no reason why there should be a disparity between this scheme and the schemes that he has just mentioned. There is also a degree of confusion—which the Secretary of State might be able to resolve—about exactly when pensions will move...

The hon. Gentleman makes a forceful point. I can see no reason why there should be a disparity between this scheme and the schemes that he has just mentioned. There is also a degree of confusion—which the Secretary of State might be able to resolve—about exactly when pensions will move...

The Committee is grateful to the Secretary of State for his lucid explanation of a rather complicated series of amendments, which seek to implement the Kelly recommendations. Two months ago, there was some confusion in the Government as it was not clear that we would get the changes before a...

The Committee is grateful to the Secretary of State for his lucid explanation of a rather complicated series of amendments, which seek to implement the Kelly recommendations. Two months ago, there was some confusion in the Government as it was not clear that we would get the changes before a...

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the practice that applies to pension funds outside this place should equally apply to us, and that Members should have the right to appoint a proportion of the trustees, just as members of any large scheme elsewhere have?

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the practice that applies to pension funds outside this place should equally apply to us, and that Members should have the right to appoint a proportion of the trustees, just as members of any large scheme elsewhere have?

The hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Andrew Miller) did not read out paragraph (1)(3) of new schedule 9, which states:""The IPSA may, after consulting the Minister for the Civil Service… remove a trustee of the fund"." It then refers to paragraph (3), of which sub-paragraph (4) states:""No provision...

The hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Andrew Miller) did not read out paragraph (1)(3) of new schedule 9, which states:""The IPSA may, after consulting the Minister for the Civil Service… remove a trustee of the fund"." It then refers to paragraph (3), of which sub-paragraph (4) states:""No provision...

Point taken. One of the amendments would remove the sunset clause, which I never wanted in the first place, so I am delighted to recommend it. I do not think that that will require further amendment.

Point taken. One of the amendments would remove the sunset clause, which I never wanted in the first place, so I am delighted to recommend it. I do not think that that will require further amendment.

I have had the benefit of being in the Chamber for the whole debate and I do not think that there has been any personal criticism of members of the Fees Office. Everybody understands that a system that was not fit for purpose developed and that officials in the Fees...

I have had the benefit of being in the Chamber for the whole debate and I do not think that there has been any personal criticism of members of the Fees Office. Everybody understands that a system that was not fit for purpose developed and that officials in the Fees...

Is that the kind of advocacy for which the right hon. Gentleman would not have been paid very much if he had done it before coming to Parliament?

Is that the kind of advocacy for which the right hon. Gentleman would not have been paid very much if he had done it before coming to Parliament?