English Votes for English Laws — House of Commons, 2021-07-13
Topic: Government Operations
Jacob William Rees-Mogg (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the hon. and right hon. Members who have contributed to the debate—to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont), who called for EVEL to be put out of its misery; my hon. Friend the Member for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine (Andrew Bowie), who reminded us that, for about 50 years, Northern Irish MPs had a vote in this House when they had a devolved settlement, without any complaint; and my hon. Friend the Member for Aberconwy (Robin Millar), who said that we needed clarity in our arrangements and should emphasise the sovereignty of Parliament, points with which I wholeheartedly concur I am also grateful to my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (John Redwood) and my hon. Friend the Member for West Worcestershire (Harriett Baldwin). There are few people I listen to more closely than my right hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham. When he makes a point and raises concerns about the constitution, I think a wise Government listen, and some of the points he makes are extremely fair. Devolution was lopsided and the constitution has become unsettled, and it has had too many variations to it in recent decades that have not improved or enhanced the unity of the nation I do not agree with my right hon. Friend that removing EVEL is an attempt to appease the Scottish nationalists. I think, in fact, that it shows we have confidence in our Union Parliament. Perhaps I am most confident in returning status quos ante. That is to say, both by abolishing the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 and by removing EVEL, we are trying to restore the beauty and the uniformity of our constitution so that it will work properly My hon. Friend the Member for West Worcestershire quite rightly reminded us of the debate in 2011. I also had an exchange with the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) when these proposals were put forward in 2015, when I said that I was very strongly against any idea of a divided parity of MPs and supported the measure only because we could repeal it—which, Madam Deputy Speaker, we are doing Question put and agreed to. Ordered, That Standing Orders Nos. 83J to 83X (Certification according to territorial application etc) be rescinded and the following changes be made to Standing Orders: (1) in sub-paragraph (3)(b) of Standing Order No. 12 (House not to sit on certain Fridays), leave out "Consent Motions under Standing Order No. 83M (Consent Motions for certified England only or England and Wales only provisions) and of"; (2) in paragraph of Standing Order No. 39A (Voting by proxy), leave out "or in any legislative grand committee"; (3) in paragraph of Standing Order No. 51 (Ways and means motions), leave out "or, in the case of a motion to which Standing Order No. 83U applies, forthwith upon the announcement of the Speaker’s decision with respect to the motion under that standing order"; (4) in Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills not subject to a programme order) leave out paragraphs and (6); (5) in Standing Order No. 64 (Notices of amendments, &c., to bills), leave out ", of Consent Motions under Standing Order No. 83M (Consent Motions for certified England only or England and Wales only provisions)"; (6) in Standing Order No. 73 (Report of bills committed to public bill committees), leave out "or the Legislative Grand Committee (England)"; (7) in Standing Order No. 83A (Programme motions), in paragraph (9), leave out "up to and including"; (8) in Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees), (a) in paragraph (1), leave out "or in legislative grand committee or on reconsideration or consequential consideration" and (b) in paragraph (5), leave out "or in legislative grand committee or on reconsideration or consequential consideration"; (9) in Standing Order No. 83C (Programming sub-committees), (a) in sub-paragraph (5)(e), leave out "up to and including", (b) in sub-paragraph (12)(b), leave out "up to and including", and (c) in sub-paragraph (14) leave out "up to and including"; (10) in Standing Order No. 83D (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings in public bill committee or in committee of the whole House, etc.), (a) in the title, leave out ", etc.", and (b) in paragraph (1), leave out ", in the Legislative Grand Committee (England) when exercising functions under Standing Order No. 83W(6)(a) (Legislative Grand Committees)"; (11) in Standing Order No. 83E (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration up to and including third reading), (a) in the title for the words "and up to and including" substitute "or", (b) in paragraph (1), leave out "up to and including", and (c) leave out paragraph (5); (12) in Standing Order No. 83F (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments), leave out paragraphs to (11); (13) in Standing Order No. 83G (Programme orders: conclusion of proceedings on further messages from the Lords), (a) in paragraph (5), leave out ", subject to paragraphs (6) and (7),", and (b) leave out paragraphs (6) to (9); (14) in Standing Order No. 83I (Programme orders: supplementary provisions), in paragraph (1), leave out "or in legislative grand committee"; and (15) in Standing Order No. 86 (Nomination of general committees) leave out sub-paragraph (2)(iv).