Introduced by Robert Walter (Con, Dorset North), the Bill aims to address the "West Lothian Question" and grant to the Speaker of the House of Commons the ability to debar Scottish and Northern Irish MPs speaking in debates concerning legislative - and other - matters relating solely to issues concerning England and Wales.

Walter's Bill does not make the case for an English parliament. "An English Parliament presupposes a form of separate English Government, with an English First Minister, English Ministries and so on. I contend that we have already have a Parliament that is capable of legislating for England on matters that have been devolved to Scotland and Wales. That is this Parliament, but limited to Members of Parliament who represent the constituencies that are affected by legislation."

Walter concluded by stating: "my Bill has arisen out of a sense of frustration on the part of my constituents, and a feeling of unfairness and injustice on the part of people who live in England. My Bill would complete the devolution settlement process without the creation of an English Parliament, because at the end of the day, 428 English Members of Parliament are more than capable of deliberating on matters that relate to England."

The Conservatives' shadow constitutional affairs minister, Oliver Heald, acknowledged the "lack of reciprocity" between English and Scottish matters in Parliament: "I share my hon. Friend’s concern that there is an imbalance in our constitution following devolution. Although devolution is well established and we support it, it raises an issue particularly as between England and Scotland that requires further consideration. At present Members representing Scottish seats can help to decide matters for England over which they haveno say in their own constituencies, and Members representing English seats have no say in domestic matters in Scotland, which are largely decided by the Scottish Parliament."

Constitutional affairs minister Bridget Prentice responded for the government. Prentice accepted that there were problems but added that: "The solution that the Conservative party appears to have adopted as party policy—English votes for English laws—is in itself a flawed solution and not the way that we should proceed."

Prentice also stressed the government's opposition to the Bill when she stated: "I will sum up my opposition to the Bill by stressing my belief in the Union—which many hon. Friends have also emphasised. By the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone. I am sure that hon. Friends recognise the source of that comment. I do not believe that the Bill will rectify some perceived inequality in this House, but I do believethat if it is passed it will cause untold damage to our institution of Parliament, which has a tradition of unifying the peoples of our United Kingdom."