Press briefing from the Leader of the House of Commons: Forthcoming Business, BAE-Saudi Arabia, Ministers-collective responsibility, Party funding-Phillips inquiry and Electoral Commission
Forthcoming Business
The Leader said that, on Monday, January 22, the House would debate the second reading of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill (Ruth Kelly and Phil Woolas for the Government). On Tuesday, January 23, the business was Opposition Day (3rd Allotted Day), when there would be a debate on Healthcare Acquired Infections, followed by a debate on Life Chances of Disabled Children - both arising on an Opposition motion. On Wednesday, January 24, there would be a debate on Iraq and the Middle East on a motion for the Adjournment of the House (Margaret Beckett and Kim Howells). On Thursday, January 25, the business would be remaining stages of the Fraud (Trials Without a Jury) Bill (Mike O’Brien and Joan Ryan). Private Members Bills would be taken on Friday, January 26.
Provisional business for the following week would be: Monday, January 29 - remaining stages of the Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Bill; Tuesday, January 30 - Opposition Day (4th Allotted Day). On Wednesday, January 31, there would be a debate on motions relating to the Police Grant and Local Government Finance reports; Thursday, February 1 - a debate on "Defence in the World" on a motion for the Adjournment of House; Friday, February 2 - Private Members Bills.
BAE-Saudi Arabia
The Leader was asked if he had seen the reported comments on behalf of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), expressing "serious concerns" about the decision to drop the fraud inquiry. He referred to the twin statements made previously by the head of the Serious Fraud Office and the Attorney General. Mr Straw said that a combination of them was a judgement by both that it would not be in the public interest for the inquiry to proceed, and that always had been one of the two tests for prosecutions. The Leader also pointed to the words in the statement of the Attorney that, in his judgement, even a further 18 months of inquiry would not have produced evidence which could lead to a reasonable chance of conviction. He referred to his comments on the issue during Business Questions earlier. The PMS added that the Prime Minister had set out a full account of his position on this issue at PMQs this week.
Ministers-collective responsibility
It was put to the Leader that recent statements and actions by Ministers had called into question the doctrine of collective Cabinet responsibility and implied that they could say what they liked.
Mr Straw said he did not accept the suggestion for a second. Collective Cabinet responsibility still applied and he referred to an interview in the New Statesman with the Northern Ireland Secretary who, he said, had noted that point specifically in respect of Iraq. Commenting on actions by some Ministers in relation to local National Health Service decisions, Mr Straw said that all Ministers had two jobs - one of which was to represent their constituents. That had to be done in a manner which was compatible with Ministerial responsibilities, which they did. All were entitled to make representations to Ministers on behalf of constituents.
The Leader then repeated what he had said during Business Questions earlier in response to a specific question about the Northern Ireland Secretary’s reported comments: "One of the things that one learns as Foreign Secretary - indeed, it is perfectly obvious even before one reaches that august office - is that one cannot pick and choose whom people elect to foreign Governments. We have to accept foreign Governments as they are, and work with them constructively. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear - it is a position backed by the whole Labour party - our alliance with the United States and our union with Europe are the twin pillars of our successful foreign policy and relationships abroad."
Pressed on Mr Hain’s remarks, the Leader declined to expand on his response in the House, which he said had articulated the Government’s position.
He was asked why the Prime Minister and Ministers now appeared to be shy about standing in front of the cameras with members of the US Administration. Mr Straw said there was no question of secrecy. He understood that there would be a photographic facility for the visit of Condoleezza Rice. He recalled that, during his period as Foreign Secretary, there were occasions when, for perfectly good reasons, it had been better for discussions to take place privately.
Party funding-Phillips inquiry
Mr Straw was asked about claims in the latest BBC report, suggesting that agreement had been reached with Sir Hayden Phillips on the issue. The Leader denied that was the case. He said that Sir Hayden was in discussions with each of the parties at present, and was apparently nearing the final stages of drawing up a report. Mr Straw said that Sir Hayden had to come to his own conclusions, but he had no idea what his report would say.
Pressed further, the Leader again stressed that there was not an agreement. He referred to the latest statement issued by Sir Hayden’s office in response to the reports, rejecting them as inaccurate. The Leader confirmed, in response to a further question, that the issue had been discussed at Cabinet earlier today.
Mr Straw said that Sir Hayden was exploring the scope for agreement and, therefore, compromise with each of the parties. It was for him to say the basis on which he thought some things may or may not be part of an agreement. The Leader said he would not go into details of any meetings with Sir Hayden, who was conducting a very important and sensitive inquiry on which, as was known publicly, the original positions of the three parties were different. In response to a further question on the specific issues of spending cap and a voluntary framework for a cap on donations, the Leader referred to his party’s official policy on the issue.
Electoral Commission
The Leader was asked if he had seen the latest report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the comments of its chairman, Sir Alistair Graham. Mr Straw said that he read Sir Alistair’s remarks on the Electoral Commission and was broadly in agreement with him about the importance of strengthening its effectiveness, of separating out its role in respect of parliamentary boundaries and ensuring, as his report recommended, that there should be people of political experience - though not political party representatives - on the Commission.
Mr Straw said that the recommendations were echoed by similar recommendations in a report of the Constitutional Affairs select committee. The Leader said that, on the Commission, he thought there was quite a consensus between the parties - and it was helpful to have the Committee’s view in support.
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