Business of the House (Lisbon Treaty)

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I cannot abide spin doctors or stand being in their presence. I do not know of any discussions such as those that he has mentioned, but I am quite new to this debate. I suspect that one of the reasons behind the motion might be that sometimes—at least in my experience, and I have been in the House for more than 19 years—the procedural debate can eclipse the debate on the substance of a treaty, for example. All too often we do not have a chance to discuss what difference a treaty will make to people’s lives.