Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster, Conservative): Although I do not agree with the final few words of my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone), I agree with much of the rest of what he said. If this was genuinely the last time that the House would ever consider these issues, I would be rejoicing and might even be entirely persuaded by what the Leader of the House said. He knows as well as I do that, if IPSA recommends a significant salary increase in advance of April 2013, the Government—perhaps even a Government with him still as Leader of the House—will introduce a two-line Bill to ensure that we do not vote on the proposal.

Mark made a number of interventions in the West Lothian Question debate before making a speech. Please find Mark's contributions to the debate detailed below.

Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con): It is universally accepted by anthropologists that one sign of higher animal intelligence is the ability to learn from experience. As the Leader of the House moved the motion, one was inclined to ask, "Have we in the House of Commons learned nothing from the calamity of the expenses scandal?"

No one could accuse my hon. Friend Adam Afriyie of lacking bravery in introducing this debate. I suspect that not many votes can be found in bringing up IPSA once again, so it is to his credit. We all faced difficulties through IPSA's teething problems-even me, as a central London MP. I have no need for a second home, but obviously I have had an office to run, like all other Members.strong>

Mark had hoped to make a contribution to the Third Reading of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill but in the event was unable to speak. The Bill provides for the next General Election to be held under the Alternative Vote system, provided this change is endorsed in a referendum on 5 May 2011 and boundary changes have been made to reduce the size of the House of Commons to 600...