There are 63 Liberal Democrat MPs in the House of
Commons and 78 Liberal Democrat Peers in the House of Lords. We are the strongest Liberal Democrat or
Liberal force in the UK Parliament since the 1920s.
On the parliamentary
pages of this site you can:
Read reports from recent debates
Read speeches and weekly round-ups of events from both
Houses
Find the Liberal Democrat position on major
bills
Read more about the Lib Dem Record in
Parliament
As well as searching this website you can search
everything Lib Dem MPs have said on a particular topic in Parliament using the
'theyworkforyou' website by clicking on this
link and entering the relevant word or phrase (in quote
marks) in the search box as well as the existing text.
THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Tuesday 6th
May
Following the Bank Holiday Monday, MPs returned to discuss Lords
Amendments to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. David Howarth spoke in
support of Lords amendments on suspended sentence orders, but supported the Government on
proposals for an offence of hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation (as did Evan Harris). Mr Howarth welcomed government concessions in
response to a Lords amendment to strengthen data protection laws, and spoke in support of
proposals to abolish the law of blasphemy (as, again, did Evan Harris). At health questions Norman Lamb asked about bed occupancy levels. In Westminster
Hall Steve Webb spoke on flood defences in Norfolk, and Paul Rowen
on welfare to work city strategies.
Wednesday 7th
May
Bob Russell will propose a 10 Minute Rule Bill today, the
Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill. The Conservative Opposition Day today
will be on the subject of Safeguarding the Impartiality of the Civil Service. It
will be followed by consideration of the Norfolk Broads Private Bill. If
necessary, there will be further consideration of Lords Amendments to the
Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill. In Westminster Hall Willie Rennie will
speak on RAF Aldergrove, and there will be a debate on the Democratic Republic
of Congo. Annette Brooke has a short debate on green belt
policy.
Thursday 8th May
Today's main debate will be
a general debate on Defence in the World. In Westminster Hall there will be
a debate on a report from the Health Committee on the National Institute for
Health and Clinical Excellence. Sandra Gidley is expected to
speak.
Friday 9th May
Private Members Bills for
debate today include the Planning and Energy Bill (report stage) and Foreign
Nationals (Statistics) Bill (second reading). At the end of the day's business,
Vince Cable has a short debate on care home charges.
NEXT WEEK IN
PARLIAMENT
Business will include second reading of the
controversial Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill on Monday 12th May,
and the remaining stages of the Education and Skills Bill on 13th
May.
LAST WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Monday 28th April
MPs debated the Finance
Bill at committee stage, with the focus on the Government’s tax increases for
low earners. Jeremy
Browne spoke for the Liberal Democrats, as Labour MPs voted through the tax
hike and rejected an opposition proposal that could have given safeguards over
an adequate compensation package. Earlier, at Defence questions, Nick Harvey led for the Lib Dems, asking about military
overstretch.
Tuesday 29th April
Committee stage of
the Finance Bill continued, with Jeremy Browne again leading. He proposed
amendments to support home energy efficiency and spoke in support of an
amendment to exempt working vehicles, such as those used by farmers, from
higher vehicle excise duty. David Howarth challenged Jack Straw at Justice questions over
screening of people with mental health problems. Norman Lamb obtained a Westminster Hall debate on Zimbabwe and
the application of sanctions. Edward Davey also spoke in the debate. The other full length
Westminster Hall debate saw John Pugh speak on Primary Care Trusts and exceptional
cases.
Wednesday 30th April
Michael Moore led for the Liberal Democrats at international
development questions, asking about rising food prices worldwide. At questions
to the Prime Minister Nick Clegg challenged Gordon Brown over the doubling of the
10p tax rate and post office closures. Steve Webb spoke during debate on the day's main business, the
remaining stages of the Energy Bill. In Westminster Hall Lynne Featherstone spoke on teenage knife crime and Jo Swinson on developments in Ukraine.
Thursday
1st May
On local and London elections day the main political action
was outside the Palace of Westminster. But business went on, with Steve Webb taking part in Defra questions, asking about
coastal flood defences. Later Edward Davey spoke in a topical debate on the Middle East, and
Alan Reid participated in a general debate on child poverty in
Scotland. In Westminster Hall Michael Moore spoke in a debate on a report from the
International Development Committee on Sanitation and Water. The debate was
introduced by Malcolm Bruce, who is chair of the
committee.
Friday 2nd May
Parliament did not
sit today.
The
Parliamentary section of this website is updated by the Liberal Democrat
Political Information and Communications Section. Any comments on them
should be emailed directly to us at comms@libdems.org.uk.
George Crozier, Lib Dem
PICS
