HC Deb 01 March 1999 vol 326 cc736-7
35. Mr. Andrew Dismore (Hendon)

What representations she has received on the procedure for passing non-contentious Law Commission Bills through Parliament. [72131]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office (Mr. Paddy Tipping)

My right hon. Friend the President of the Council recently met the chairman of the Law Commission, and has also answered a number of parliamentary questions from my hon. Friend. The House will know that the Standing Orders already provide for an expedited procedure for Law Commission Bills.

Mr. Dismore

Is my hon. Friend aware that more than half the 21 Bills considered by the House over the past five years spent a minute or less on the Floor of the House? Moreover, a substantial backlog accumulated under the last Government, with the result that 45 reports require legislation. Could not the Modernisation Committee consider whether the expedited procedure could be improved, enabling us to clear some of the backlog and justify the substantial amount that the Government and the country give the Law Commission to make non-controversial proposals to make the law more effective and understandable to people in general?

Mr. Tipping

As my hon. Friend will recognise, over the past two years there has been some improvement in the number of Bills that have been presented. Obviously, we want to make progress as quickly as we can. My hon. Friend mentioned uncontentious Bills. Part of the art of the House lies in spotting an uncontentious Bill and hoping that it remains uncontentious. It is not always the case that all Bills are dealt with in a minute; as my hon. Friend knows, some have taken considerably longer.

My hon. Friend advocates a look at the procedures. If the House were minded to experiment with the notion of a Main Committee, or a Principal Committee, there might be scope for that.

Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

What are the precise criteria for categorising Law Commission Bills as non-contentious?

Mr. Tipping

All Bills are referred to the relevant Department, which judges whether a Bill should be presented as part of the legislative programme. Ministers and officials make judgments, in discussions with the Law Commission and others, on how parliamentary time can be used most effectively. Ultimately, there is limited parliamentary time, and priorities have to be set, and judgments made, about the best use of it.