Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 26 January 2012. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Scotland Bill.


Scotland Bill

My Lords, I confessed that I knew nothing about it, but it seems a very sensible proposal. I have in the past suggested that because the Scottish Parliament sits only one and a half days a week, a solution to the West Lothian question would be that all Members of the Scottish Parliament should sit there for one and a half days a week and on those one and a half days the House of Commons could discuss those matters not related to devolved issues. This has not proved very popular with Members of the Scottish Parliament, for reasons that I cannot imagine. So in following the advice of the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, they might protect themselves from being endangered by people like me, who might suggest that there were synergies in combining the roles of a Member of the House of Commons with a Member of the Scottish Parliament. I am sure that the Scottish Parliament will show considerable gratitude to the noble Lord in drawing this matter to public attention if, indeed, it has already got that Parliament rethinking its sitting days.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
734 c1229-30 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Devolved matters Constituencies Administration Age Devolution Elections Legislative competence Legislation Electoral systems Fixed-term parliaments Dual mandate Ministerial powers Powers Members Referendums Ministers Parliamentary session Scotland Voting rights Scottish Parliament Supreme Court Scottish National Party Independent members Reserved matters Legislative consent motions Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
Legislation
Scotland Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk