Procedure and House Affairs committee  Right. “Scrutiny committees” is what we call them, including, for example, the procedure committee. The chair of our procedure committee is directly elected by the House as a whole.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  As far as I'm aware, they haven't, but I don't want to be naive. It may be that they stipulate their members to put in particular subjects for debate, but I really doubt it. I think members spot that and don't like it on either side. This is their place. It is their home, more th

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I do have a successor who is taking over at one minute past midnight tomorrow and who will be at least as well qualified to answer, but when Canada calls, I will always do my best to help. My very best to all of you, and thank you.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There isn't for the House of Commons as a whole. Of course, in the Standing Orders, if they give due notice and there are members from both the two largest parties on the committee voting that way, they can express a lack of confidence in the chair. You can look in detail at the

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, that is the same electoral college, the House as a whole.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  No, we would be very quick. We can get a by-election going very quickly, and the Standing Orders were drafted quite carefully to give some freedom to the Speaker to abbreviate intervals. However, sure, you have to have time for people to agree to stand, because to stand as chair,

Procedure and House Affairs committee  We don't appoint deputy chairs in advance, but every committee knows that it's usually, obviously, one of the senior members from the other side who will take the chair if for whatever reason the chair isn't there.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Okay. I will try to be brief. The purpose of the Backbench Business Committee, which was recommended in 2009 by the House of Commons reform committee, was to ensure that on days when the government didn't need the floor for its agenda, rather than filling it with boring debates

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's not a coincidence.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That is absolutely correct. It is neutral. As far as I know, other than ensuring ministers turn up, the government's business managers—who I do know fairly well—take very little interest in Westminster Hall at all, and that's a good thing.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It has gone well. This was a recommendation from the House of Commons reform committee, to which I was the clerk. As it's in my last hour, I can be candid. Most members favoured this idea. They thought it was a really good idea. It would give the chairs of the committees more s

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes. It's in the paper, and you have it there. It's either two or three; I can't remember. In other words, effectively no. There are no quorum requirements in the chamber either, unless you have a vote. You have to have a certain number of people to vote, which is 40, but if yo