Former Chief Whip questioned on the status of confidence motions

• Watch Parliament TV: Status of resolutions of the House of Commons
• Inquiry: Status of resolutions of the House of Commons
• Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Fixed term parliaments

The Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011 placed procedures for no confidence motions the Governments which lead to a general election into statute. There are however a number of unanswered questions about the conventions surrounding confidence motions which have been described as performing "one of the most fundamental constitutional roles" of the UK parliamentary system.

As part of its inquiry into the Role of Parliament in the UK Constitution, The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee takes evidence on how 'confidence motions' have been effected by the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. The Committee recently took evidence on the subject from senior clerks, including Clerk of the House Sir David Natzler, constitutional academics and Dame Margaret Beckett. In this session, the Committee continues its inquiry by hearing from former Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform and Former Chief Whip Rt Hon Mark Harper, who was the Minister responsible for the passage of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act 2011.

Witness

Monday 5 November, Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House

At 3.30pm

• Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, Former Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform and Former Chief Whip

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: Parliamentary copyright