Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some clarification on that point? The Government appear not to intend to make the kind of changes to the ministerial code that I would welcome. Will he make a commitment on behalf of the Conservative party that, if it were to form...

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the House some clarification on that point? The Government appear not to intend to make the kind of changes to the ministerial code that I would welcome. Will he make a commitment on behalf of the Conservative party that, if it were to form...

I do not plan to delay the Committee for long, but I think it is worth going through the genesis of the changes we are discussing this evening. When the expenses abuse revelations were at their height, the then Speaker convened a meeting of the leaders of all the parties...

I do not plan to delay the Committee for long, but I think it is worth going through the genesis of the changes we are discussing this evening. When the expenses abuse revelations were at their height, the then Speaker convened a meeting of the leaders of all the parties...

I very much welcome the Kelly recommendations—moving Westminster, as they do, towards the higher standard now operating in the Scottish Parliament. At the all-party talks on these issues, much hope was invested by everyone in all the parties that IPSA would deal with pay, allowances and expenses, so it must...

I very much welcome the Kelly recommendations—moving Westminster, as they do, towards the higher standard now operating in the Scottish Parliament. At the all-party talks on these issues, much hope was invested by everyone in all the parties that IPSA would deal with pay, allowances and expenses, so it must...

There were more than three parties.

There were more than three parties.

When the Justice Secretary began the process of discussions with all the parties, which I very much welcomed, he argued that it was important to have four offences in the Bill, but in the final stage we are left with one. What kind of message does he think that sends...

When the Justice Secretary began the process of discussions with all the parties, which I very much welcomed, he argued that it was important to have four offences in the Bill, but in the final stage we are left with one. What kind of message does he think that sends...

I am grateful to the shadow Leader of the House for explaining his view, but I do not agree with him: there is a difference between registering and declaring an interest. Just because we have access to Google in our offices does not mean that when we are attending a...

I am grateful to the shadow Leader of the House for explaining his view, but I do not agree with him: there is a difference between registering and declaring an interest. Just because we have access to Google in our offices does not mean that when we are attending a...

I am pleased to be able to contribute, although time is running out. I want to speak to amendment 100, which was tabled by me and by my colleagues in the Scottish National party. I welcome the inclusion of criminal sanctions for Members of Parliament who break the rules, and...

I am pleased to be able to contribute, although time is running out. I want to speak to amendment 100, which was tabled by me and by my colleagues in the Scottish National party. I welcome the inclusion of criminal sanctions for Members of Parliament who break the rules, and...

It sounds more like "Flashman".

It sounds more like "Flashman".

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this House legislated in the Scotland Act 1998 for people to face criminal sanction for non-declaration in the Scottish Parliament? Given that this House believed at that time that such rules should be applied to another legislature in the UK, why should this...

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this House legislated in the Scotland Act 1998 for people to face criminal sanction for non-declaration in the Scottish Parliament? Given that this House believed at that time that such rules should be applied to another legislature in the UK, why should this...

I think it would be helpful to get some clarification from the Liberal Democrats on the issue of offences. This House, with the support of the Liberal Democrats, supported the Scotland Act 1998, from which several of the offences that are now part of the Bill were lifted. Is the...

I think it would be helpful to get some clarification from the Liberal Democrats on the issue of offences. This House, with the support of the Liberal Democrats, supported the Scotland Act 1998, from which several of the offences that are now part of the Bill were lifted. Is the...

The House of Commons has a real opportunity to learn from the higher standards that operate in the Scottish Parliament. It is right that there should be criminal sanctions for MPs who break the rules, and I am glad that the Bill takes forward some of the provisions from the...

The House of Commons has a real opportunity to learn from the higher standards that operate in the Scottish Parliament. It is right that there should be criminal sanctions for MPs who break the rules, and I am glad that the Bill takes forward some of the provisions from the...

The right hon. Lady is right to suggest that under Presiding Officer George Reid the Scottish Parliament reformed the processes that were used, and all political parties were involved in that process. That was welcome then, and it is welcome now that the lessons have been learned. The record will...

The right hon. Lady is right to suggest that under Presiding Officer George Reid the Scottish Parliament reformed the processes that were used, and all political parties were involved in that process. That was welcome then, and it is welcome now that the lessons have been learned. The record will...

Dissolution of Parliament. Un-allotted half-day Opposition day debate. Motion negatived on division (268 votes to 340).

Dissolution of Parliament. Un-allotted half-day Opposition day debate. Motion negatived on division (268 votes to 340).

My hon. Friend gives an additional reason why there should be a general election. Many people throughout the country agree, and so do many Members from the governing party.

My hon. Friend gives an additional reason why there should be a general election. Many people throughout the country agree, and so do many Members from the governing party.

The hon. Gentleman has made his point and it is on the record, but I want to return to the point that I want to make. At this stage, we want to make it clear that the motion affects the whole House—every party and independents, too. It is not a...

The hon. Gentleman has made his point and it is on the record, but I want to return to the point that I want to make. At this stage, we want to make it clear that the motion affects the whole House—every party and independents, too. It is not a...

The hon. Gentleman makes his point about a very successful and popular SNP Government in Scotland, but rather than get involved in a party political partisan ding-dong on these issues, I ask him and his hon. Friends to listen to the argument that I shall make, which is about the...

The hon. Gentleman makes his point about a very successful and popular SNP Government in Scotland, but rather than get involved in a party political partisan ding-dong on these issues, I ask him and his hon. Friends to listen to the argument that I shall make, which is about the...

I beg to move,"That this House requests the Prime Minister to seek a dissolution of the present Parliament." It is an honour to move the motion in my name and the names of my right hon. and hon. Friends in the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru, the party of...

I beg to move,"That this House requests the Prime Minister to seek a dissolution of the present Parliament." It is an honour to move the motion in my name and the names of my right hon. and hon. Friends in the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru, the party of...

The hon. Gentleman has clearly missed the point that I have been trying to make. This is a motion for the dissolution of Parliament; it is not a motion of no confidence in the Government or the Prime Minister. On that basis, I return to the point that I want...

The hon. Gentleman has clearly missed the point that I have been trying to make. This is a motion for the dissolution of Parliament; it is not a motion of no confidence in the Government or the Prime Minister. On that basis, I return to the point that I want...

There are many reasons why people voted for all kinds of things. What I pointed out just now was that the overwhelming majority of public opinion is in favour of Parliament's being dissolved. That is one of the important reasons why we should vote for the motion.

There are many reasons why people voted for all kinds of things. What I pointed out just now was that the overwhelming majority of public opinion is in favour of Parliament's being dissolved. That is one of the important reasons why we should vote for the motion.

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's history lesson; I was of course in primary 8 at that time. [Interruption.] It is true. I have already made the point—[Interruption.]

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's history lesson; I was of course in primary 8 at that time. [Interruption.] It is true. I have already made the point—[Interruption.]