Questions About Public Bill Committees

Natascha Engel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the benefits to the legislative process of public reading stages for bills.

Sir George Young: I have been asked to reply.

The public reading stage will improve public engagement with Parliament by giving individuals a chance to participate in the legislative process and improve the quality of legislation by taking into account the views of those who might otherwise not contribute. The current pilot public reading of the Protection of Freedoms Bill will provide the basis for a further assessment of the merits of the process.

Natascha Engel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has for the (a) minimum and (b) maximum amount of time for public reading stages of Bills.

Sir George Young: I have been asked to reply.

Public reading stage will normally begin when a Bill is published and end in time for the points raised by members of the public to be taken into account during proceedings in the Public Bill Committee.