For more than a thousand years the laws of Britain have been recorded on vellum. Earlier this week the plan was revealed to abolish the practice. However, James Grey, a conservative MP is planning to call for a back-bench debate creating a stand-off between the Commons and the House of Lords.
Last time, the House of Lords decided to abolish the tradition to record the Acts of Parliament on vellum was in 1999. However, at that time plan was overturned by an unlikely alliance of Conservatives and Labour MP’s, who defeated the move by 121 votes to 53.
Once again disgruntled traditionalists are manning the last ditch in view of the decision taken by the House of Lords to have future legislation printed on simple archive paper. The change is calculated to save £80.000 a year plus the lives of countless goats and calves.
However, led by James Grey, a conservative MP, a group of back-benchers are once again orchestrating an assault on the plans of the House of Lords. According to The Telegraph, he has warned that if peers go ahead with the plans to abandon vellum despite the Commons vote there will be a “constitutional stand off” over the issue and continues: “This is an outrageous act of constitutional and cultural vandalism. I think it may well cost more to use archival paper because you have to use properly controlled environments which you don’t need for vellum.”
However, the fact remains that a 19th century ruling presents the House of Lords the exclusive right to decide the matter.
It appears the matter has been of considerable interest for legislators in the British Parliament for some time and that the dispute – in itself – should be a prime candidate for being awarded the status of “intangible Cultural Heritage” by UNESCO. We must hope Westminster comes to its senses!
SOURCE:
Goat skin tradition wins the day
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