§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
On how many occasions Private Members' Bills have been provided with extra parliamentary time in the House of Commons by the Government of the day in each Session since 1964. [HL10541]
§ Lord RichardThe information for each Session from 1954 to 1987 was given in a Written Answer in the House of Commons on 26 January 1987 (Official Report, WA cols. 106–118). Since then the latter stages of only three Bills have proceeded in Government time, though without debate, shortly before the Dissolution in March 1997. They were two private Peers' Bills which had already been reported from standing committees in the Commons (the Police (Insurance of Voluntary Assistants) Bill and the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill taken on 19 March 1997) and one Private Member's Bill which had passed both Houses and to which the Lords had made amendments (the Public Entertainment Licences (Drugs Misuse) Bill taken on 20 March 1997). All three received Royal Assent before the end of the Parliament.
§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy towards providing additional parliamentary time to Private Members' Bills. [HL1067]
§ Lord RichardIt is assumed that this Question relates to proceedings in the House of Commons only. The Standing Orders of the House of Commons provide that Private Members' Bills shall have precedence over Government business on 13 Fridays each Session. The specific dates are set by an order at the start of each Session. The procedures governing Private Members' Bills and the time available for their consideration are well known. In recent years successive governments have declined to disturb these arrangements. The Government have always made it clear that there was no question of making extra time available for any Private Members' Bills this session.