Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (Money) (No. 3)

I will move on now, but I very much want to return to debate this subject—and, believe me, we will, because we want to expose exactly what the Opposition are trying to do through this new clause. There were several distinguished contributions to our debate. I want to single out my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), who rightly drew attention to the merits of open primaries. Shortly, I will explain exactly what I think the Conservative party is about, but I want to pay tribute to its pioneering efforts in this one area. There is a lot to be said for open primaries, and all of us should explore this further; it is about the fundamental reform of politics. The absence of the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) from this House after the next election will be a great loss to Parliament. He made a point—he did so several times—about whether the Bill has any chance of success. I think he is making assumptions that he, as a most distinguished parliamentarian, should know it is unwise to make. We will see; Parliament should, and will, decide. The right hon. Member for Suffolk, Coastal (Mr. Gummer) is not in his place at present, but he made an immensely entertaining speech. He asked why there was this choice between first past the post and the alternative vote. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made that clear: it is because we believe in majoritarian systems. We believe fundamentally in the importance of the direct link between the Member of Parliament and their constituency. This is simply a choice between two such systems. The right hon. Gentleman also asked a question about money, and I am sorry he is not present to hear that in this financial year and the next his area will receive an extra £92.3 million in NHS funding. I hope that might convince him of the merits of a Labour Government. Everyone agrees that this country's democracy needs to be renewed in every area, and this Government are committed to that. We have cleaned up the scandal of parliamentary expenses so the abuses that took place can never take place again. We are committed to giving Parliament more power, and many of the measures in this Bill advance that. [Interruption.]