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<p>My Noble Friend the Government Chief Whip has no such plans. In line with the Guidance
on Hybrid House and Hybrid Grand Committee set down by the Procedure and Privileges
Committee, legislation is currently taking precedence on sitting Fridays.</p><p>Despite
the constraints on the way in which the House is working we have managed to debate
11 Select Committee reports in the session to date. I expect it to be possible to
debate further reports as the session progresses.</p><p>Last week the Government Chief
Whip wrote to the Procedure and Privileges Committee with a suggestion as to how we
can adapt our current working practices to allow a limited number of Questions for
Short Debate to be asked in Grand Committee.</p><p>Background/points we could make:</p><p>-
The short answer to the question is ‘no’.</p><p>- We normally sit on only one Friday
per calendar month. We have had to sit on more than that since returning from the
summer recess to accommodate the various Coronavirus regulations.</p><p>- The Procedure
and Privileges Committee guidance clearly states, at paragraph 39, that:</p><p>- “Until
further notice, Thursday and Friday sittings of the hybrid House may be used for legislation
which shall have precedence over other business.”</p><p>- Despite the broadcasting
and administrative restrictions we have been working under we have still managed to
debate 11 select committee reports in the session to date. And will take more where
we can.</p><p> </p>
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