Scottish Secretary shuns Tory's call for "English votes for English laws"

By Jonathan Isaby

Yesterday saw the Scotland Office ministers taking questions in the Commons  shortly before Prime Minister's Questions.

Newly elected Conservative MP for Harlow in Essex, Robert Halfon (pictured), asked the following simple question:

"Does the Secretary of State recognise that residents in my constituency and elsewhere believe that alongside his plans for Scottish devolution, England deserves a fair constitutional settlement, with English votes for English laws?"

Alas the (Lib Dem) Scottish Secretary, Michael Moore, utterly failed to give a susbtantial answer to the question:

"The hon. Gentleman's passionate case has been heard in a very busy Chamber, but I am concentrating on getting on with the continuation of Scottish devolution."

The Coalition Agreement stated that "We will establish a commission to consider the West Lothian question" and in July Cabinet Office Minister Mark Harper indicated that the Government aimed to "announce our plans for the commission by autumn 2010."

We await further news with bated breath...