Committee hear from political science experts
26 October 2010
The House of Lords Constitution Committee heard evidence from Vernon Bogdanor, Research Professor at Kings College London and Dr Ruth Fox, Director of the Parliament and Government Programme at the Hansard Society as part of their inquiry into the Government’s proposals for fixed-term parliaments.
The Committee asked Professor Bogdanor and Dr Fox for their views on the advantages and disadvantages of fixed-term parliaments, whether they agree with concerns that the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill has been rushed through Parliament, whether 4 or 5 years is the most appropriate length for fixed-term parliaments and what ‘safety valve’ mechanisms allowing early dissolutions would be appropriate if fixed-term parliaments were to come into force.