English votes for English laws

Academics questioned on procedural arrangements under coronavirus restrictions

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Westminster system, Government of the United Kingdom, Legislatures, United Kingdom, Political systems, Animal virology, Coronaviridae, Coronavirus, John Benger, Hansard, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, English votes for English laws

The House of Commons Procedure Committee hears from leading academics from the Hansard Society, the UCL Constitution Unit and Institute for Government.

Key Points:

The House of Commons Procedure Committee hears from leading academics from the Hansard Society, the UCL Constitution Unit and Institute for Government.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Committee also heard from Clerk of the House, John Benger and Strategic Director, Chamber Business Team, Matthew Hamlyn on the present procedural arrangements under coronavirus restrictions, including the new pass reader system for voting.
The session forms part of the Committees ongoing inquiry into House of Commons procedure and practice under coronavirus restrictions.
"My Committee will continue to monitor House procedure and practice under coronavirus conditions as those conditions develop, taking further evidence as appropriate and reporting to the House where necessary."

House of Commons takes historic first step towards virtual proceedings

Retrieved on:

Friday, April 17, 2020

Government of the United Kingdom, Legislatures, United Kingdom, Politics of the United Kingdom, English nationalism, English votes for English laws, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons Commission

The unprecedented step towards a hybrid House was taken by the House of Commons Commission - on which the Speaker, Leader, Shadow Leader and an SNP spokesperson sit - in a bid to keep democracy going during the coronavirus crisis.

Key Points:

The unprecedented step towards a hybrid House was taken by the House of Commons Commission - on which the Speaker, Leader, Shadow Leader and an SNP spokesperson sit - in a bid to keep democracy going during the coronavirus crisis.
The historic measures will still need the approval of MPs when they return from Easter recess on 21 April.
The hybrid model was developed at speed and chosen as an achievable first step towards a virtual Parliament having the benefit of meeting current technological capacity.
Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter and @UKHouseofCommons on Instagram, for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber and more.

House of Commons takes historic first step towards virtual proceedings

Retrieved on:

Friday, April 17, 2020

The unprecedented step towards a hybrid House was taken by the House of Commons Commission - on which the Speaker, Leader, Shadow Leader and an SNP spokesperson sit - in a bid to keep democracy going during the coronavirus crisis.

Key Points:

The unprecedented step towards a hybrid House was taken by the House of Commons Commission - on which the Speaker, Leader, Shadow Leader and an SNP spokesperson sit - in a bid to keep democracy going during the coronavirus crisis.
The historic measures will still need the approval of MPs when they return from Easter recess on 21 April.
The hybrid model was developed at speed and chosen as an achievable first step towards a virtual Parliament having the benefit of meeting current technological capacity.
Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter and @UKHouseofCommons on Instagram, for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber and more.

Speaker outlines virtual Chamber plans

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Westminster system, Legislatures, Government, Government of the United Kingdom, Software, Constitution of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons of Canada, Speaker of the House of Commons, Speaker, Instagram, English votes for English laws

While a draft operating model developed by the House Service for how these arrangements will work in the Chamber in practice has been approved by the Speaker, it is now with the Government and main Opposition parties for review.

Key Points:

While a draft operating model developed by the House Service for how these arrangements will work in the Chamber in practice has been approved by the Speaker, it is now with the Government and main Opposition parties for review.
A virtual meeting of the Procedure Committee will consider this model on Wednesday, 15 April.
The Speaker also thanked the House authorities, particularly the Broadcasting Team and PDS for adapting current technology and bringing in new methods to allow our work to take place in a virtual setting.
Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter and @UKHouseofCommons on Instagram, for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber and more.

Speaker outlines virtual Chamber plans

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

While a draft operating model developed by the House Service for how these arrangements will work in the Chamber in practice has been approved by the Speaker, it is now with the Government and main Opposition parties for review.

Key Points:

While a draft operating model developed by the House Service for how these arrangements will work in the Chamber in practice has been approved by the Speaker, it is now with the Government and main Opposition parties for review.
A virtual meeting of the Procedure Committee will consider this model on Wednesday, 15 April.
The Speaker also thanked the House authorities, particularly the Broadcasting Team and PDS for adapting current technology and bringing in new methods to allow our work to take place in a virtual setting.
Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter and @UKHouseofCommons on Instagram, for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber and more.

Statement by House of Commons Commission

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Legislatures, Westminster system, Articles, Government of the United Kingdom, English nationalism, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Politics of Northern Ireland, Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, English votes for English laws, R (Miller) v The Prime Minister and Cherry v Advocate General for Scotland, House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary digital, broadcasting and procedural experts are working round the clock to develop a virtual House of Commons if needed for the end of the Easter recess, the House authorities were told.

Key Points:

Parliamentary digital, broadcasting and procedural experts are working round the clock to develop a virtual House of Commons if needed for the end of the Easter recess, the House authorities were told.
The plans would enable MPs to use videoconferencing tools to call in remotely to some parliamentary proceedings, to scrutinise Government during the Coronavirus lockdown.
As the Commons is scheduled to return on 21 April, the Commission discussed that preparations would need to commence the week before in order for House authorities to deliver any necessary arrangements.
The possibilities were raised at the first virtual House of Commons Commission meeting chaired by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who praised staff for developing solutions so quickly.

“The settled will”? Devolution in Scotland, 1998-2020

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Constitution of the United Kingdom, Government of the United Kingdom, Politics of the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, Politics of Scotland, Devolution in the United Kingdom, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Politics of Northern Ireland, Scotland Act, English votes for English laws, Devolution, Scottish Assembly

That Scottish Parliament became a reality in 1999, yet the devolution settlement in Scotland has often been contested, particularly when the Scottish National Party (SNP) entered devolved government for the first time in 2007.

Key Points:

That Scottish Parliament became a reality in 1999, yet the devolution settlement in Scotland has often been contested, particularly when the Scottish National Party (SNP) entered devolved government for the first time in 2007.
Unlike in Wales, where the devolution settlement quickly began to evolve, the first major changes to the powers of the Scottish Parliament took place in 2012.
This briefing paper examines, first, the constitutional status quo in Scotland, then developments in its devolution settlement since the Scotland Act 1998 received Royal Assent on 19 November 1998.
It concludes by examining the impact of Brexit upon devolution in Scotland.

“A process, not an event”: Devolution in Wales, 1998-2020

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Politics of the United Kingdom, Government of the United Kingdom, Devolution in the United Kingdom, United Kingdom, Constitution of the United Kingdom, Politics of Wales, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Politics of Northern Ireland, Devolution, English votes for English laws, R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

It is not an event and neither is it a journey with a fixed end-point.

Key Points:

It is not an event and neither is it a journey with a fixed end-point.
The devolution process is enabling us to make our own decisions and set our own priorities, that is the important point.
We test our constitution with experience and we do that in a pragmatic and not an ideologically driven way.
This briefing paper summarises the main developments regarding devolution in Wales since 1998.

Statement by Commission

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Legislatures, Articles, Westminster system, Government of the United Kingdom, Telecommunications, Assistive technology, Health informatics, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Lindsay Hoyle, Videotelephony, Speaker of the House of Commons, English votes for English laws

The plans would enable MPs to use videoconferencing tools to call in remotely to some parliamentary proceedings, to scrutinise Government during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Key Points:

The plans would enable MPs to use videoconferencing tools to call in remotely to some parliamentary proceedings, to scrutinise Government during the Coronavirus lockdown.
As the Commons is scheduled to return on 21 April, the Commission discussed that preparations would need to commence the week before in order for House authorities to deliver any necessary arrangements.
The possibilities were raised at the first virtual House of Commons Commission meeting chaired by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who praised staff for developing solutions so quickly.
The Commission was also told that thanks to staff who enabled virtual Select committees to take place during the recess, it would be possible to support as many as 20 virtual committee meetings a week from 20 April.

House of Commons Commission thanks staff for virtual Parliament strategy

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Legislatures, Government of the United Kingdom, Westminster system, United Kingdom, English nationalism, Politics of Northern Ireland, Speaker of the House of Commons, English votes for English laws, House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Lindsay Hoyle, House of Commons Commission, Recess

Parliamentary digital, broadcasting and procedural experts are working round the clock to develop a virtual House of Commons if needed for the end of the Easter recess, the House authorities were told.

Key Points:

Parliamentary digital, broadcasting and procedural experts are working round the clock to develop a virtual House of Commons if needed for the end of the Easter recess, the House authorities were told.
As the Commons is scheduled to return on 21 April, the Commission discussed that preparations would need to commence the week before in order for House authorities to deliver any necessary arrangements.
The possibilities were raised at the first virtual House of Commons Commission meeting chaired by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who praised staff for developing solutions so quickly.
The Commission was also told that thanks to staff who enabled virtual Select committees to take place during the recess, it would be possible to support as many as 20 virtual committee meetings a week from 20 April.