First Public Evidence Session of The McKay Commission
23 and 24 April 2012
The “Commission on the consequences of devolution for the House of Commons”, also known as The McKay Commission, held its first formal evidence sessions in central London on 23 and 24 April 2012. The oral evidence and discussions focussed on issues arising from the Commission’s terms of reference: ‘To consider how the House of Commons might deal with legislation which affects only part of the United Kingdom, following the devolution of certain legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Assembly for Wales’.
Those who gave evidence on 23 April were:
- Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP (as an interested individual/MP)
- Robin Tilbrook (Chairman, English Democrats)
- Harriett Baldwin MP (as an interested individual/MP)
- Rt Hon Peter Riddell (Senior Fellow, Institute for Government)
- Hywel Williams MP (on behalf of Plaid Cymru Members represented in the House of Commons)
On 24 April, evidence was heard from:
- Robert Rogers (Clerk of the House of Commons) with David Natzler (Clerk Assistant) and Simon Patrick (Clerk of Bills)
- Guy Lodge (Associate Director for Politics and Power; Institute for Public Policy Research)
- Pete Wishart MP (on behalf of the Scottish National Party Members represented in the House of Commons)
- Lord Tyler and Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames QC (representing the Liberal Democrat Party)
- Eddie Bone and Scilla Cullen (respectively, current and previous Chairmen; Campaign for an English Parliament)
Further public meetings will be held, the next in Edinburgh on 10 May, followed by Belfast, and Cardiff during June and July 2012. Other sessions will also follow later in the year.
Anyone wishing to submit written evidence to the Commission may do so through the Commission’s email address, as follows: secretariat@tmc.independent.gov.uk . The deadline for receiving written submissions was Friday, 13 April 2012 so any further written submissions should made as soon as possible.