Rogers DA (David)
--,..
From:
Rogers DA (David)
Sent:
18 February 1999 18:28
To:
Jamieson JL (lain);Jackson KJ (Karen); EwingJA (John); AldridgeJS (John); WalfordIN
(Ian)
Subject:
FW: Draft PO for comments: stop press
Further to my earlier e-mail to some of you, the Lords Whips Office has told me that these PQs have been
discussed by Ministers in view of concerns expressed by the opposition about the timing of the Health Bill
in relation to devolution.
He is going to suggest a form of words to me for the answer on Monday.
Iwill
circulate that in due course
So I do not need comments on my draft.
DAR
,/
~;;.---OriginalMessage-----
Could I have any comments on the attached draft PQ answer by 10.30 am tomorrow please?
DAR
0218pqs.doc
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1
DRAFT 18/2/99
FEBRUARY 1999
WRITTEN
HOUSE OF LORDS .
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements have been made for debating in Westminster matters
relating to Scotland and Governmental matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament
after 1st July 1999.
(HL 1092)
What arrangements have been made for the answering of written and oral
parliamentary questions relating to Scotland and Governmental matters devolved to
the Scottish Parliament after 1st July 1999.
(HL 1093)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Scotland (Lord Sewel):
It will be for your Lordships to consider how to handle Scottish business after
devolution, taking account of the fact that Ministers in the United Kingdom
Government will, in general, no longer have responsibility for matters which are
within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or the executive
competence Qfthe Scottish Ministers.
I announced to the House on 21 July 1998 that the Government expect a
convention to be established that Westminster would not nonnally legislate with
regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.
The Select Committee on Procedure of the House of Commons is conducting an
inquiry into the procedural consequences of devolution.
In its evidence to the
c
Committee, Government noted, in particular, that Ministers will no longer be able to
answer questions on matters for which they no longer have any responsibility at all. It
(-
also proposed that Ministers will, where practical, indicate in 'their answers to
questions and in debate where they are dealing with subjects they will not be
responsible for after devolution. That proposal has been endorsed by the Committee
and is being implemented.
[Is the memorandum which was submitted to the Committee on 29
October by the
Leader of the House of Commons. available to members of the House of Lords, eg in
the Library?]
[OR Vol 592, col 791]
DRAFT 18/2/99
Background Note (not for Hansard)
1.
After devolution, the UK Parliament will remain able to enact legislation for Scotland
iIl.relation to ·any matter. However, as noted in the draft Answer, Ministers have made it clear
that they expect a convention to develop that Westminster would not nonnally legislate with
regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.
A
copy ofthe relevant pages of Hansard is attached.
2.
The Select Committee
of Procedure of the House of Commons is conducting an
inquiry into the procedural consequences of devolution.
Its remit is to consider what changes
are necessary in consequence of the devolution legislation.
Among the issues the Committee
are considering is whether
it is possible to lay down clear principles
as to the House's
relationship with the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Irish Assemblies and whether the
Westminster, Parliament
should exercise a "self denying ordinance".
Among the more
detailed concerns it is addressing is wheth.er the regime for Parliamentary Questions should
be changed. The future of the Scottish Mfairs Committee and the Scottish Grand Committee
is also under consideration .
.3.
The Government's
evidence to the Committee took the fonn of a memorandum from
Mrs Beckett submitted on 29 October.
As noted in the Answer, the Committee has endorsed
the proposal that Ministers will, where practical, indicate in their answers to questions and in
debate where they are dealing with subjects they will not be responsible for after devolution.
That proposal is now being implemented.
4.
Until the Procedure Committee completes its report and the Government makes a
statement, there is little more that can be said.
Contact:
David Rogers
Ext No:
45534
(
(
Executive Secretariat
The Scottish Office
February 1999
",
.",
FAX
THE SCOTTISH OFFICE
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Notes
-
Please print clearly and supply full infonnation required
-Ensure
that all pages for facsimile transmission are single sided and that all staples are removed
DRAFT 18/2/99
FEBRUARY 1999
WRITTEN
HOUSE OF LORf)S-----------
Lord Hogg of CuinberiiaUldasKoo HeiMajesfy's-Govemmeiit:-----
u
--------
What arrangements have been made for debating in Westminster matters
' .....
,__
relating to ·Scotland--and-6ovemmental-matters-devo-lved-to·--the-
Scottish-:Parli1Jrnimt-
:,""';,7t~?k:
after-1st July 1999;-----------
..----------(HL-1092)--,4:L:r{_?!:,
What arrangements have been made for the answering Qfwritten and ora1-;d:~Jf;;~
""~;--
parliamentary questions relating to Scotland and Governmental matters devolved to
the Scottish Parlianient after 1st July 1999.
(HL 1093)
•
I:
DRAFT 18/2/99
Background Note (not for Hansard)
1.-
After devolution, the UK. Parliament will remain able to enact legislation for Scotland
in relation to any matter. However, as noted in the draft Atiswer, Ministers have made it clear
that they expect a convention to develop that Westminster would not normally legislate with
regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.
A
copy of the relevant pages of Hansard is attached.
-..------------Q~The_Select
Committee of Procedurc of thc Housc of Commons is conducting
an
-----inquiryinto
the procedural-consequencesof-devolution.
Its remit-is to-consider what changes ---
-
are-riecessiry in consequenceoftliedev6Tutlon
-legislation:- Among ffielssues tlieGo1D1il1ttee
are considering is whether it is possible to lay duwn clear-princip-Ies-crs-to-tlre-House's
relationship with the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Irish Assemblies and whether the
Westminster
Parliament
should exercise a "self denying ordinance".
Among the more
detailed concerns it is addressing is whetHer the regime, for Parliamentary Questions should
be changed. The future of the Scottish Affairs Committee and the Scottish Grand Committee
-is-wsounder consideration. ---- ....-
3.
The Government's
evidence to the Committee took the form of a memorandum from
Mrs Beckett submitted on 29 October.
As noted in the Answer, the Committee has endorsed
the proposal that Ministers will, where practical, indicate in their answers to questions and in
debate where they are dealing with subjects they will not be responsible for after devolution. _
That proposal is now being implemented.
4.
Until the Procedure Committee completes its report and the Government makes a
statement, there is little more that can be said ..
Contact:
David Rogers
Ext No:
45534
c
Executive Secretariat
.' TheScottishOffice
February 1999
Document Outline
