Chamber first
The first ever Commons debate chosen by the Backbench Business Committee could leave some ministerial toes badly crushed.
They've put down a motion instructing the Commons Procedure Committee to come up with a suitable punishment for ministers who make big announcements to the media, rather than to MPs. This is a long-standing gripe, dating back at least a couple of governments. MPs hate to hear announcements being made on the Today programme rather than in the Chamber. And if this motion is passed, they may be able to do more than splutter their breakfast egg all over their morning Hansard.
The debate is scheduled for next Tuesday - after day four of the Finance Bill Committee Stage - and I understand this subject was the unanimous choice of the committee. What is not yet clear is how it will be conducted. Will a committee member, perhaps the Chair, Labour's Natascha Engel, move the motion? Will a minister have to respond? Nobody's decided yet.
The Backbench Committee is still writing the rules as it goes along. They're a little bashful about the fact that this first debate had to be chosen without much consultation beyond their own ranks - the hope is that they will normally take the voices more widely before allocating a debate. They don't want to be reduced to sticking a pin in a list of possible subjects - and in due course, when the select committees start producing reports on contentious issues, they will be eager to have those debated, with ministers responding.
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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