UK Parliament / Open data

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

The hon. Gentleman seems quite angry about this issue. He says that I am opposed to this idea, but I am not—I am wholly in favour of publishing explanatory memorandums that are explanatory. My only hesitation is about whether that should be specified in a Bill, because of the simple fact that we publish explanatory memoranda on a great deal of things. I realise that I am wandering between using "memorandums" and "memoranda". I have already been accused today of not speaking Latin, so I want to be careful. I cannot remember whether this is a gerund or a gerundive. I believe it is a gerundive. [Interruption.] Is it a gerund? [Interruption.] Anyway, the point that I was trying to make before I interrupted myself was that because we publish explanatory memorandums in many other areas, not just in relation to treaties, it would seem to make sense that if we were going to do so, that should be for the House to decide as a matter of House business, not a matter for the Government to decide and to put in statute.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

504 c194 

Session

2009-10

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber
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