A very distinguished group of Peers and MPs, and a few lucky onlookers, had an opportunity yesterday to hear George Shultz (US Secretary of State under President Reagan) and Senator Sam Nunn (Democrat Senator from Georgia 1972-96, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee - His legislative achievements have included the important Department of Defense Reorganization Act 1986, (where he was a key player in the Senate's adoption of this legislation often referred to as the Goldwater-Nichols Act) , and the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, which provides assistance to Russia and the former Soviet republics for securing and destroying their excess nuclear, biological and chemical weapons) address the issue of moving "Towards a Nuclear-Free World"

The point was made that " The accelerating spread of nuclear weapons, nuclear know-how and nuclear material has brought us to a nuclear tipping point. We face a very real possibility that the deadliest weapons ever invented could fall into dangerous hands.

The steps we are taking now to address these threats are not adequate to the danger. With nuclear weapons more widely available, deterrence is decreasingly effective and increasingly hazardous."

Senator Nunn set out eight necessary steps, which he stressed were not necessarly sequential

1 Increase the warning time needed before a nuclear strike could be ordered (he pointed out that currently the Russian President has only 5 minutes to react if advised of reports of an 'attack' reach him)

2 Ensure that the numbers of nuclear weapons are diminished over time

3 Missile Defence - must be coordinated with Russia

4 There needs to be transparency about the holding of tactical nuclear weapons, with moves towards their ultimate elimination

5 The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty must be ratified

6 There must be multi-lateral work done on the use of nuclear energy - focusing on the control of enriched material

7 Regional issues which fuel conflicts and mutual suspicion must be dealt with

8 There must be verification - and also enforcement.

Further information can be found on the website of the Nuclear Threat Initiative http://www.nti.org/

EU Matters in Parliament

The progress on the European Union (Amendment) Bill in the House of Commons has dominated business there in recent weeks.

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/europeanunionamendment.html

This week the Lib Dems walked out in a row over a referendum - and a big demonstration was held outside Parliament yesterday.

The Lords will have a European debate this afternoon - not on the Bill - that is expected to arrive in a few weeks but Lord Grenfell will move that this House takes note of the Report of the European Union Committee on The Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy for 2008 (23rd Report, Session 2006-07, HL Paper 123)

The Report is available at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldselect/ldeucom/123/123.pdf

10 Minute Rule Bills

Yesterday Dr Nick Palmer had an opportunity to introduce a bill into the House of Commons - in prime time. The bill [Small Print Bill] makes "requirements regarding the minimum size of print in certain documents, including those relating to advertising and contracts; and for connected purposes"

It won't become law - but that is rarely the point of "10 Minute Rule Bills". A Factsheet published by Parliament explains -

Bills introduced under Standing Order No. 23, otherwise known as the Ten Minute Rule, are not always serious attempts at legislation. The process is used much more as a means of making a point on the need to change the law on a particular subject. Motions under this rule may also provide the opportunity for a Member to test parliamentary opinion on a subject upon which he/she or other Members may seek to legislate in later sessions. The Ten Minute Rule allows a brief speech in favour of the bill by the Member introducing it. It also allows a speech by a Member opposing the Motion. This has to be made in the House after question time (at, or shortly after, 3.30 pm, although this is often delayed by statements etc.) on Tuesdays and 12.30 pm Wednesdays, when both Members' benches and the press gallery are likely to be well filled. There may also be television coverage of the speech in the early evening news. Standing Order No. 23 allows Members to ask the House permission to introduce a bill. If the House agrees, whether by division or not, the bill will get its first reading. If the House disagrees after a division, the bill cannot be introduced.

Sometimes Ten Minute Rule bills do become law if there is general consent, although there is rarely time for debate after their introduction. Standing Order No. 23 bills are marked "T" in the Weekly Information Bulletin. Not all Ten Minute Rule bills are printed. The Member will often be satisfied with the publicity achieved by his or her speech in the Chamber. If the bill is not printed it cannot make further progress.

Members may move a motion to bring in a Ten Minute Rule bill by giving notice in the Public Bill Office between five and fifteen sitting days beforehand. This usually means the Tuesday or Wednesday three weeks before. The slots are in practice divided up between the parties according their representation in the House. No notice may be given until the fifth Thursday of the session.

Named!

Extraordinary scenes in the House of Commons a few minutes ago. Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey was 'named' by the Deputy Speaker - and required to leave the chamber. A few moments later the entire Liberal Democratic Party walked out!

The procedure for 'naming' a member was described in a recent report of the Modernisation Committee -

"S.O. No. 43 gives the Chair power to order a Member or Members whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw from the House for the remainder of the day's sitting. In a more serious situation, or if the powers available under S.O. No. 42 and S.O. No. 43 have proved insufficient, S.O. No. 44 permits the Chair to name a Member who has disregarded the authority of the Chair, or has persistently or wilfully obstructed the business of the House by abusing its rules or otherwise."

The first report from the BBC said "Lib Dem frontbencher Edward Davey has been ordered out of the Commons, after angry protests to the deputy speaker.

Mr Davey was annoyed at the Speaker's decision not to allow MPs to debate and vote on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union.

Deputy Speaker Michael Lord had already warned Mr Davey and fellow Lib Dems to respect the Speaker.

Mr Davey repeatedly protested, saying he was being "gagged" and saying "it's a debate the British people want".

Planning for Inauguration Day

January 20th 2009 seems a long way away (visit http://www.january20th2009.com/ for the exact time in days, hour, minutes and seconds until the term of the next President is due to start). Already planning for inauguration is underway.

This week in the House of Representatives S.Con.Res. 67 - A concurrent resolution establishing the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will be considered under the suspensions procedure.

For some background on the traditional celebration of Inauguration Day visit http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/daysevents/index.htm