Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and I am sure that his points will be noted. Both roles would be important. It is helpful to the Committee highlight the significance of the office for budget responsibility, and I think that we agree on the significant role that it would play—I hope—in addressing the current huge levels of borrowing. I hope that it would be important, just as the CAG has been important. On clause 37, we think, on balance, that the result that we have got to, which is largely a continuation of the previous process, is an important one. We are pleased that it remains a requirement for the Prime Minister to move the motion for the appointment of the CAG. As I said, I have had the pleasure of responding to the Prime Minister twice when he has performed that role—I am sure that he was delighted to have that opportunity too. All being well, however, such a motion should not happen very often—once in 10 years, as the Bill envisages—although it is always possible that things will not go entirely to plan. Because of the independence provided by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, there is a danger that the existing independence might be diminished in those circumstances by a straight vote in Parliament—whether a vote in Committee or a vote by the whole House—given that the Government will always be the majority party. Consequently, we welcome clause 37.