§ 34. Helen Jackson (Sheffield, Hillsborough)To ask the President of the Council what further changes to the standard timetable of the House he is proposing during this year. [89170]
§ The Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office (Mr. Ben Bradshaw)The House has recently agreed significant changes which begin today. These include, for the first time, having an annual parliamentary calendar which will give some predictability to our timetable, a change that has been warmly welcomed by Members on both sides of the House. There are no current plans for further changes but the Modernisation Committee will, of course, monitor and assess the impact of the recent reforms.
§ Helen JacksonI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. He will know that I welcome the new year and the new timetable, and hope that they will both be happy for all of us. However, as we settle into the new regime, can my hon. Friend assure us that proper practices of political scheming—much loved by Members of this House—and the valuable work undertaken by the usual channels will continue and thrive under the new regime?
§ Mr. BradshawIt is certainly beyond my powers and, I suspect, beyond the powers of any Member here to put an end to what my hon. Friend describes as political scheming.