We have heard about the national anthem and the national motto, but whatever happened to Britishness day? That issue has never been addressed. The concept was universally popular in Scotland, and I think that the proposed date was that of the signing of Magna Carta, which took place some 300...

We have heard about the national anthem and the national motto, but whatever happened to Britishness day? That issue has never been addressed. The concept was universally popular in Scotland, and I think that the proposed date was that of the signing of Magna Carta, which took place some 300...

Although it purports to be United Kingdom-wide, the Bill regrettably ignores the constitutional debate that is raging up in Scotland. The Secretary of State's party, along with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, engaged in the Calman commission process. That commission recommended that the appointment of chief civil servants should...

Although it purports to be United Kingdom-wide, the Bill regrettably ignores the constitutional debate that is raging up in Scotland. The Secretary of State's party, along with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, engaged in the Calman commission process. That commission recommended that the appointment of chief civil servants should...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

Can the Minister confirm that in new clause 21, the reference to the Scottish Law Commission relates only to issues that are reserved to the Westminster Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998? That is suggested in new clause 21 and in clause 8, but nowhere in the Bill is it...

Can the Minister confirm that in new clause 21, the reference to the Scottish Law Commission relates only to issues that are reserved to the Westminster Parliament under the Scotland Act 1998? That is suggested in new clause 21 and in clause 8, but nowhere in the Bill is it...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, who has great experience in these matters. His words will be listened to carefully by the Government. He is entirely right that, when we start to scrutinise Bills—I credit the Select Committee chaired by the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston...

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, who has great experience in these matters. His words will be listened to carefully by the Government. He is entirely right that, when we start to scrutinise Bills—I credit the Select Committee chaired by the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston...

We in the minority parties have great difficulty securing places on Committees, so I look forward to the support of the hon. Lady when we try to do so.

We in the minority parties have great difficulty securing places on Committees, so I look forward to the support of the hon. Lady when we try to do so.

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but I think that I had best move on. We have not heard about the definition of ““legislation””. There is an attempt to define it in subsection (6) of new clause 19, which states that it includes"““a public general Act or local Act...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, but I think that I had best move on. We have not heard about the definition of ““legislation””. There is an attempt to define it in subsection (6) of new clause 19, which states that it includes"““a public general Act or local Act...

The hon. Gentleman is entirely right. The fact that it feels so much like a Second Reading means that the Bill is almost calling out for further scrutiny. We have seen a number of the amendments for the first time in the course of the past week. They need further...

The hon. Gentleman is entirely right. The fact that it feels so much like a Second Reading means that the Bill is almost calling out for further scrutiny. We have seen a number of the amendments for the first time in the course of the past week. They need further...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing my attention to amendment (a). He is entirely right. Amendments (a) to (e) would improve new clause 19, so I assure him that we will support them. I hope that amendment (a) is pressed to a Division. There has been no...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing my attention to amendment (a). He is entirely right. Amendments (a) to (e) would improve new clause 19, so I assure him that we will support them. I hope that amendment (a) is pressed to a Division. There has been no...

I think that I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. I will come to his Committee’s report—I hope that he will be patient for that. The hon. Member for East Renfrewshire was almost responsible for galvanising the sheer opposition to the measures that were being suggested. The way in...

I think that I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. I will come to his Committee’s report—I hope that he will be patient for that. The hon. Member for East Renfrewshire was almost responsible for galvanising the sheer opposition to the measures that were being suggested. The way in...

We come to the House today to watch a rare and wondrous thing; the Government eating a large and probably unpalatable portion of humble pie. The disappointment for all of us involved in the debate is that the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr. Murphy) is not here to share...

We come to the House today to watch a rare and wondrous thing; the Government eating a large and probably unpalatable portion of humble pie. The disappointment for all of us involved in the debate is that the hon. Member for East Renfrewshire (Mr. Murphy) is not here to share...

Could changes be made to the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 and, as my hon. Friend says, the Government of Wales Act 1998 without recourse to debate on the Floor of the House? We must also consider subsection 7(c) of new clause 19 because although the measure includes an...

Could changes be made to the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 and, as my hon. Friend says, the Government of Wales Act 1998 without recourse to debate on the Floor of the House? We must also consider subsection 7(c) of new clause 19 because although the measure includes an...

Is not the truth that the Government were told by the Chief Whip in the Lords that they would never have got the Bill through in its original condition?

Is not the truth that the Government were told by the Chief Whip in the Lords that they would never have got the Bill through in its original condition?

Does the hon. Gentleman have a view on why the Government introduced the Bill in the way that they did? Was it just a mistake by civil servants or something more sinister?

Does the hon. Gentleman have a view on why the Government introduced the Bill in the way that they did? Was it just a mistake by civil servants or something more sinister?

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual expenditure on training and development for (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual expenditure on training and development for (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English...

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual expenditure on vehicles by his Department was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the annual expenditure on vehicles by his Department was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the annual expenditure on vehicles for (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and...

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been the annual expenditure on vehicles for (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English...