She said: “I have to say, I think it is extremely regrettable and ill advised of the shadow leader to use his very privileged position at the despatch box today to give such a political, one-sided and misleading account of what is a very difficult, technical, important issue of conscience to the country and to this House, and that actually, on the day of second reading, I think that every colleague – maybe apart from the shadow leader – across this House recognises that we and our procedures showed themselves at their very best in debating this important matter.”.
The Cabinet minister added the Government “has a responsibility, while we have a neutral position on the principles of the Bill, we have a responsibility to ensure that any Bill that is passed by this House is workable and operable, and that is the role that we will be playing through the ministers that are representing the Government on that committee”.
Commons leader Ms Powell replied: “As he is well aware, this House passed with a majority – a clear majority – that this Bill should proceed through second reading to committee stage, and that is the will of this House.
Health minister Stephen Kinnock told the Commons last month that the Government expects “to publish the impact assessment before MPs consider the Bill at report stage”, after a committee has met several times to scrutinise and potentially amend Ms Leadbeater’s original proposal.
The makeup of that committee, as is in the standing orders, the makeup of that committee reflects the vote at second reading of this House and also reflects the party makeup of the House, and many would argue that it’s actually been overly conscious of that.”.
