No plans to change April 21 Parliament return

Published by Scott Challinor on April 14th 2020, 9:09am

Despite Covid-19 lockdown measures in the UK, Parliament is still set to return on April 21.

The Commons will reconvene following an extended Easter recess to debate vital Brexit and coronavirus related legislation and authorise spending on the government’s response to the crisis.

The government will look to pass its Finance Bill, due for a second reading on April 22, as a matter of priority, while Brexit legislation repealing EU freedom of movement within UK law is set to be debated the previous day.

Non-essential business could be put on hold, while the standard working practices of the Commons may be affected as social distancing measures are set to remain in place within the Palace of Westminster.

At present, 40 MPs must be within the Commons chamber to enable a vote to occur, but the Institute for Government has indicated that this may be changed to allow party whips to act as a proxy for all their MPs, meaning less individuals are required to attend.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg has revealed that plans are being made to allow MPs to work remotely. 

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is keen to set up a “virtual Parliament” based around video conferencing, after several select committees had successfully been operating with it.

A spokesperson for Rees-Mogg said: "In these unprecedented times, technological solutions have already been implemented for select committee and options are being prepared for the Speaker, the government and other parties to consider next week.

"It is important that we have a comprehensive solution that does not inadvertently exclude any members."

The arrangements are being made after newly appointed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that MPs must be able to scrutinise the government's decisions.

Sir Keir said Labour would support the government "where it is right to do so", but would also ask "difficult and searching questions" when required, including over issues such as the government’s exit strategy for the UK lockdown, availability of coronavirus testing and access to personal protective equipment.

The Covid-19 death toll in UK hospitals has now reached as high as 10,612.

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Authored By

Scott Challinor
Business Editor
April 14th 2020, 9:09am

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