As mentioned in an earlier post, I was successful in the ballot for a Thursday debate and my motion – to call attention to the case for enhancing the means available to the House of Lords to scrutinise legislation and public policy – occupied the the first of today’s two debates. The debate was notable for the…
The parties have begun what amounts to a long election campaign. There has to be an election before early June at the latest. The assumption is that the election will be on 6 May. That means that the number of parliamentary legislative days between now and dissolution is limited. However, within the Palace the legislative…
Yesterday’s Second Reading debate on the Digital Economy Bill produced some good speeches: the most telling critiques of the Bill were provided by Lord Lucas on the Conservative benches and Lord Whitty on the Labour benches. The debate is well worth reading. The first speaker on the Conservative side was former Cabinet minister, Lord Fowler,…
Each session, some of the Bills promised in the Government’s programme begin their passage in the Lords. Among those being introduced in the House this session is the Digital Economy Bill. It had its Second Reading today. The Bill itself is not massive in size – 49 clauses and three schedules – but it nonetheless…
