Review of House of Commons Proceedures Police Raid of Damian Green MP's Office — Committee to Investigate Immediately — rejected — 8 Dec 2008 at 17:34

The majority of MPs voted against immediately starting the proceedings of a committee of MPs to investigate the House of Commons procedures in light of the seizure by the police of material belonging to Damian Green MP. The majority of MPs opted instead for the committee to wait for the conclusion of any inquiry or proceedings.

The majority of MPs voted against an amendment which would have changed the motion under consideration from:

• That, following the search of a Member's office in the Parliamentary Estate by the police and the seizure of material therein, a committee be appointed to review the internal processes of the House administration for granting permission for such action, and to make recommendations for the future;
• That the committee must not in any way prejudice any police inquiry or potential criminal proceedings and that therefore it will be adjourned immediately after choosing a chairman until the completion of any relevant inquiry or proceedings that may follow;
• That the committee have power to send for persons, papers and records; to report from time to time; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; and
• That the committee consist of seven members appointed by the Speaker reflecting the composition of the House.

To:

• That, following the search of a Member's office in the Parliamentary Estate by the police and the seizure of material therein, a committee be appointed to review the internal processes of the House administration for granting permission for such action, and to investigate all the circumstances, including Ministerial, official and police actions, which led to the search, and to review the applicable rules and procedures of the House and to make recommendations;
• That the committee have power to send for persons, papers and records; to report from time to time; to sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the House; and
• That the Committee should be bound in its proceedings by the existing resolution of the House on matters of sub judice; and
• That the committee consist of seven members appointed by the Speaker.

The changes are highlighted in italics.

A key change was to delete a paragraph which said that the committee must adjourn as soon as it has chosen a chairman until after all the police inquiries have concluded.

The rejected amendment also sought to extend the scope of the committee's remit to include ministerial, official and police actions.

• [1] Speaker's committee to adjourn until end of police proceedings, House of Commons Division, 8 December 2008
• [2] Menzies Campbell MP, House of Commons, 8 December 2008

Debate in Parliament | Source |