Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

I thank the noble and learned Lord, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, for his response, and all other noble Lords who have made contributions. I am pleased that the Minister has responded to me. In general, he has handled quite well the situation in which the Government find themselves. He certainly has a more reasonable style about him than the noble Lords, Lord McNally or Lord Strathclyde, except when he was talking to the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, when he got a bit upset. However, he has generally handled himself well in his responses to points that noble Lords have made. I agree with my noble friend Lord Foulkes of Cumnock and am pleased that he thinks my amendment the best of the bunch. He explained the importance of surgeries in a large rural constituency. My noble friend Lord Kinnock’s comments are right, and I hope that the Government will heed his wise words, although I have been disappointed in that respect. He outlined the increase in numbers of the electorate and the massive increase in demands on Members of Parliament since he first entered the other place in 1970. I agree with my noble friend Lord Anderson of Swansea that the lack of negotiation is regrettable and surprising, and I can only hope that sooner rather than later the government Front Bench will open the channels properly on this Bill. His explanation of how Parliament has changed since he first entered the other place in 1966 was very illuminating. He also mentioned the importance of the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the problems of getting Members to participate, with all the pressures on them. My noble friend Lady Armstrong of Hill Top made some very interesting points. She is right about the two sides of coalition having got to where they are from very different perspectives. That might be why they are in such difficulties today. My noble friend Lady Ford gave a perspective as a constituent since, like me, she has not served in the other place. She reminded me of Harry Lambourne, who served as a Member in the Peckham constituency with distinction before Harriet Harman succeeded him after his death in 1982. If I remember correctly, he served as PPS to the noble Lord, Lord Healey, when he was the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The noble Lord, Lord Elystan-Morgan, made some interesting points. He made the point that we should not take a stab in the dark; we need an independent person to look at this in a reasoned, confident and sensible manner. He also made a very eloquent point about the damage that is being done to Members in the other place in this discussion. My noble friend Lord Liddle raised the issue of certain seats being selected for protection and others not. Cumbria is not an area that I know well, but he made a powerful point about it. He also made the point about the damage done to Parliament and informed the House of the situation in various European countries. My noble friend Lord Campbell-Savours informed the House of the sessional returns of the other place and illustrated again from that the lack of Members’ participation in certain committees because of the pressure of time. I agree with the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Low. The Government need to open up proper communications with the Labour Front Bench and to seek to resolve this matter so that they can get their Bill through this House. To the noble and learned Lord, Lord Morris of Aberavon, all I can say is that we all need to look very carefully at Hansard tomorrow and make up our own minds about the intention of the noble Lord, Lord McNally. Finally, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions, and beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 63 withdrawn. Motion Moved by