The government’s proposed solution to ‘English votes for English laws’ is “over-engineered and potentially burdensome” and should be piloted before being fully implemented, MPs have said.
The government intends to introduce to the legislative process a new ‘consent stage’, which would involve only MPs whose constituencies were directly affected by a bill.
In its initial report on the subject, the Procedure Committee says the new plan should be tested first on no more than three pieces of legislation before being rolled out more widely.
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“Our initial review on these major proposals for change found that elements of the proposed procedures were over-engineered and potentially burdensome on the House,” committee chairman Charles Walker said.
“The committee has recommended changes which will give the whole House a say in how it applies these procedures, and will streamline the process required to allow colleagues from constituencies in England or England and Wales to vote on legislation which affects those constituencies only.
“Clearly the proposals represent a substantial change to the House’s procedures, and they ought to be piloted on statutory instruments, and a small number of Bills, before they are fully implemented.”
Under the government’s proposals, it would be up to the Speaker to decide whether a bill affected only part of the UK and should be subject to the EVEL procedures.
The committee warned that under this system legal action “cannot be ruled” out. “Legal challenges to the decisions of the Speaker and to the procedures of the House, though unlikely to succeed, cannot be ruled out,” Mr Walker said.
Two SNP MPs refused to sign up to the committee’s report.
Pension freedoms warning
A report published today the Work and Pensions Select Committee warns that savers are at risk of being scammed by predatory companies.
Before the end of the last parliament the the government allowed people with pensions to take their money in one lump sum.
But MPs say a lack of regulatory clarity is “endangering pension savers”.
The report also says that the Pension Wise website, set up by the government to offer information but not guidance on retirement finance, is “not fit for purpose”.
The report reads: “Good quality, co-ordinated and accessible guidance and advice will be the best tools to ensure people make the best, informed decisions about their retirement savings, and protect them from scammers.
“We call for clarification of the distinction between guidance and advice; the definitions of safeguarded benefits; and protections in providing advice to insistent clients. “We also expect to see a reduction in the use of jargon and complex pricing structures.”
The committee also calls on the government to “urgently redouble” efforts to raise awareness of scams and to regulate firms.