Financial Literacy in Schools private member's bill bites the dust

The 18th of January 2013 was the date for the second reading of the Financial Literacy in Schools bill. Being greatly interested in the progress of this bill we invested in a packet of ginger snaps and settled down with a mug of Tetley's to watch Parliament TV.

As it turned out this eagerly awaited debate lasted a minute (at 14.02) and would fit into a tweet. We therefore reproduce the debate in its entirety:

"Financial Literacy (Curriculum) Bill, Second Reading"

"Not moved"

And so this much heralded legislation seems to have faded away. The time, 14.02 (two minutes past two in the afternoon) is important, as House rules state:

"Note: If proceedings on the first Bill end before 2.30 pm, the second Bill and, possibly, subsequent Bills may be debated in the time remaining. After 2.30 pm, only those Bills which are unopposed may make further progress."

Being prior to 2.30pm, this bill had a right to be read even if it was opposed. So why wasn't it read?

The bill's sponsor, the Labour MP Thomas Docherty, said the reason for not debating this bill was the filibustering time wasting of the Conservative MPs, the members for Shipley (Philip Davies), Plymouth (Oliver Colville), Rosendale (Jake Berry) and Bury (David Nuttall) who droned on about a bill relating to the Antarctic.

"I am sure many people are disappointed that we have not had the chance to debate energy tariffs or financial literacy. I hope that those Members who are now slinking out of the Chamber, such as the hon. Members for Shipley (Philip Davies), for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Oliver Colvile) and for Rossendale and Darwen (Jake Berry), will reflect, particularly in this weather, on the fact that we did not have the opportunity to discuss a measure that would help thousands of their constituents because they filibustered it out. I hope that their voters are made aware of that.  On a more positive note, I thank the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), for the productive way in which his Department has engaged with this [Wild Animals in Circuses] Bill."

Thomas Docherty MP, 2.02pm Friday 18th January 2013

MPs of all complexion suffer from chronic verbal diarrhoea. The question that occurs to us is why Docherty decided he didn't have time to discuss Financial Literacy, and then went on to spend more than half an hour on his next bill concerning "Wild Animals in Circuses", to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.

Now we at Ripped-Off Britons have as soft a spot as the next man for elephants and the like. But it seemed a strange choice of priorities in this current era of rampant financial scams by the nations banks, insurers and investment managers. We would have thought the children would have come first.

Perhaps someone could enlighten us? Please do let us know (email us at financialeducation@rippedoffbritons.com)