(Orkney
and Shetland) (LD): Further to the comments of the Chair of the
Backbench Business Committee, may I say to the Leader of the House
that it is deeply regrettable that we will, even for the first week
back, not have had an opportunity in this Chamber to discuss the
proposals by Israelto annex the Occupied
Palestinian Territories? It is a matter on which this House should
express a view, as we have historic obligations in the region. I
gently say to him that perhaps it might have taken precedence, in
terms of the time available in the Chamber, over the rating
arrangements for public lavatories, which could be dealt with in
Committee—for everyone’s convenience?
The Leader of the House of Commons (
): On the issue of Israel the
Government remain committed to a two-state solution. Any moves
towards annexation would be damaging to efforts to restart peace
negotiations and contrary to international law. We have conveyed
our opposition to Prime Minister Netanyahu on multiple occasions,
and reiterated this message in a statement to the UN Security
Council on 24 June.
The remaining stages of the Non-Domestic Rating (Public
Lavatories) Bill—without making any more puns on that issue—have
to be taken on the Floor of the House. Report stage and Third
Reading need to be completed as well as Committee stage, although
I do not imagine that proceedings in Committee will take up a
great deal of time.
