Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his observation. First, parties are established under Standing Orders—we understand what parties are—and secondly, it was a criticism when we first suggested such a proposal that to allow one party effectively to block a parliamentary procedure was inappropriate, because that should require a greater degree of consensus. That is precisely why we suggested the provision. I find it slightly odd that we now hear a quibble from the other direction, suggesting that such things should be in the hands of a single party, but perhaps that could be debated later. However, the proposal has considerable merit in terms of parliamentary procedure. Simply because we do not do it now is not a good enough reason to say that we should not do it in the future. The hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston made the point about early-day motions being discussed on the Floor of the House. There ought to be a mechanism for that, too, if enough hon. Members want to do so. When an early-day motion is signed by more than half the membership of the House, such as the one on the removal of the Post Office card account, I cannot believe that we as a House cannot insist that we should debate the subject—a majority of hon. Members from all parties very feel strongly about it—yet we do not have the mechanism to do so.