The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 4 Mar 2020 Closed: 9 Mar 2021 Parliament page
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 … Read more
10 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
5 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
6 Jul
2021
Correspondence
9 Dec
2020
Report published
8 Dec
2020
Correspondence
10 Nov
2020
Correspondence
8 Oct
2020
Correspondence
15 Sep
2020
Report published
21 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
2 Jun
2020
Oral evidence
24 Apr
2020
Oral evidence
24 Apr
2020
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
21 Jul 2020
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The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Chloe Smith MP · Cabinet Office Rt Hon Mark Harper MP · Department for Transport
2 Jun 2020
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The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Professor Alison Young · University of Cambridge Professor Gavin Phillipson · University of Bristol Professor Petra Schleiter Professor Philip Cowley
24 Apr 2020
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Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011
Lord O’Donnell Sir Stephen Laws
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 HC 167 15 Sep 2020 16 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
11 Recommendation Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parl…
The principle that the Government must have, and retain, the confidence of the elected House...
The principle that the Government must have, and retain, the confidence of the elected House of Commons is fundamental to our system of Parliamentary democracy. The Committee fully endorses the findings of our predecessor Committee on the operation of confidence … Read more
Government Response
The government provided no substantive response to the committee's recommendation to endorse the findings of a predecessor committee on the operation of confidence.
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12 Conclusion Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parl…
It is clear that some mix of statue and convention is the best way for...
It is clear that some mix of statue and convention is the best way for this area to be governed, but this requires the actors involved to act in ways which engender trust.
Government Response
The government provided no substantive response to the committee's conclusion about the ideal mix of statute and convention for governance and the need for trust.
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13 Conclusion Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parl…
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act is compatible with the confidence principle and has not divorced confidence...
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act is compatible with the confidence principle and has not divorced confidence from dissolution. If the House of Commons wanted to trigger dissolution by removing confidence from the Government, it has that power under the Act. However, … Read more
Government Response
The government provided no substantive response to the committee's conclusion about the FTPA's compatibility with the confidence principle and the resulting unacceptable situations.
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14 Conclusion Not Addressed
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parl…
Providing the House of Commons with the power to set the date of an election...
Providing the House of Commons with the power to set the date of an election could provide one route to avoid unnecessary paralysis at times of deadlock.
Government Response
The government's response is boilerplate text and does not address the conclusion.
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Government Response AI assessment · 16 of 10 classified
Accepted 3
Not Addressed 4
Rejected 9
Total 10 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
6 Jul 2021 To committee Letter from Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution on Government’s Bill to repeal the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, dated 1.7.21
Parliament page
8 Dec 2020 To committee Letter from Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for Constitution and Devolution on Fixed-term Parliaments Act, dated 1.12.20
Parliament page
10 Nov 2020 To committee letter from Chloe Smith MP and Lord True to Chair on the Government response to FtPA Report dated 02.11.20
Parliament page
8 Oct 2020 To committee Letter from Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State on Common Frameworks, dated 6.10.20
Parliament page
24 Apr 2020 To committee Letter from Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State on Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, dated 30.3.20
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