Pots and Kettles

Tonight, the Commons sat past 2300 - as the Opposition took upon themselves to make a series of complaints that not enough time (5 hours) was being allotted to the Student Bill tomorrow (Thursday). Listening to Labour MPs, you would have thought that their party was a great defender of Parliament, and of legislative scrutiny of the Executive.

The reality of course was very different. In Government, Labour emasculated Parliament and curtailed debates regularly through abuse of Parliamentary procedures. It was astonishing to see the Opposition complain that five hours to debate - for what they termed as 'an important Bill' - was by no means long enough. This was despite the fact that there had been a whole day's Opposition Day debate on Student Fees only last week.

Moreover, there were numerous cases under the last Government when debates were limited to five hours. I reproduce a few examples below:
 
Debate: Local Government Bill
Date: 24th March 1999
Stage: Further Consideration and Third Reading
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order
Period taken (excluding proceedings on the Order; including divisions): 4 hours 42 minutes
 
Debate: Health Bill
Date: 15th June 1999
Stage: Further Consideration and Third Reading
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order
Period taken: 2 hours, 14 minutes
 
Debate: Sea Fishing Grants (Charges) Bill
Date: 22 nd May 2000
Stage: Consideration and Third Reading
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order (incl Nuclear Safeguards Bill)
Period taken: 1 hour
 
Debate: Television Licences (Disclosure of Information) Bill
Date: 22nd May 2000
Stage: Consideration and Third Reading
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order (incl Royal Parks (Trading) Bill)
Period taken: 48 minutes
 
Debate: Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No.2) Bill
Date: 25 th July 2000
Stage: Consideration and Third Reading
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order
Period taken: 1 hour 50 minutes
 
Debate: Anti-Social Behaviour
Date: 24 th June 2003
Stage: Consideration
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order
Period taken: 4 hours 25 minutes
 
Debate: Higher Education
Date: 31st March 2004
Stage: Consideration
Period Allotted: 5 hours from commencement of proceedings on the Order
Period taken: 5 hours 48 minutes
 
Debate: Education and Inspections
Date: 15 th March 2006
Stage: Consideration
Period allotted: 5 hours after commencement of proceedings
Time taken: n/k (12 hours 10 minutes for consideration, third reading, and further consideration)
 
Debate: Animal Welfare
Date: 14 th March 2006
Stage: Consideration
Period allotted: 5 hours after commencement of proceedings on the Order
Time taken: 5 hours 29 minutes

Pots and Kettles? You decide.