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The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Inquiry

The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 is the law governing the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of UK general elections. The Government has said it intends to repeal the Act and the Opposition also set this commitment out in its manifesto – but no proposals for replacing it have yet been made public.

There is a statutory review of the 2011 Act due this summer to review the operation of the Act and make recommendations for possible amendment or repeal. Ahead of this review this inquiry will consider what was the purpose and impact of the 2011 Act, whether it is possible and appropriate to revive prerogative powers, what areas of the 2011 Act may need to be reformed, and what any new legislation should set out to achieve. This will include the appropriateness of fixed term parliaments and scheduled elections, and whether the prorogation prerogative should also come under statutory regulation.

 

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Inquiry The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
HC 167
Report
Response to this report
Sixth Special Report - The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011: Government’s response to the Committee’s Sixth report of Session 2019–21
HC 1082
Special Report
Response to this report
letter from Chloe Smith MP and Lord True to Chair on the Government response to FtPA Report dated 02.11.20
Correspondence
Sixth Special Report - The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011: Government’s response to the Committee’s Sixth report of Session 2019–21
Inquiry The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
HC 1082
Special Report

Oral evidence transcripts

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21 July 2020
Inquiry The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Witnesses Rt Hon Mark Harper MP (Former Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform in Cabinet Office), and Chloe Smith MP (Minister of State at Cabinet Office)
Oral Evidence
2 June 2020
Inquiry The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Witnesses Professor Alison Young (Sir David Williams Professor of Public Law, Cambridge University), and Professor Gavin Phillipson (Professor of Public Law and Human Rights at University of Bristol)
Oral Evidence
24 April 2020
Inquiry The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Witnesses Lord O’Donnell, and Sir Stephen Laws
Oral Evidence
Raphael Hogarth, and Catherine Haddon (FTP0017)
Mr Michael Clancy (Director, Law Reform at The Law Society Scotland ) (FTP0016)
Grace Da Costa (Public Affairs and Advocacy Manager at Quakers in Britain) (FTP0015)

Contact us

  • Email: pacac@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 3268 (General Enquiries) / 07720165935 / 07548146012 (Media Enquiries)
  • Address: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA