Email from Graham Stuart MP
Posted by Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, at 15:09, Tue 25 April 2006:
NEWS RELEASE
25 April, 2006
Graham Stuart MP to introduce House of Commons debate on the Beverley Freemen and the Beverley Pasture Masters
Local MP, Graham Stuart, will on Thursday introduce a debate in the House of Commons on the Beverley Freemen and the Beverley Pasture Masters.
Graham was awarded the end of day adjournment debate by the speaker of the House, Michael Martin. He will use it to urge Ministers to introduce a Government Bill which would ensure the continuation of the ancient Beverley tradition.
A Private Members Bill, sponsored by the Labour MP, Jim Cousins, is currently before parliament. The Borough Freedom (Family Succession) Bill aims to award daughters the same rights as sons and to abolish place of birth as a criterion for being admitted as a freeman. The Pasture Masters are elected by Beverley Freemen, a right that is embodied in the Pasture Act 1836. However, because of a dwindling in the number of freemen, which now stands at just one hundred, there are fears that the body will die out unless legislation can be changed.
The Bill has been due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons on three separate occasions, most recently on 17 March. However, because it has been a long way down the order of business on each occasion, there has not been enough time for a full parliamentary debate. The second reading of the Bill has now been deferred until 20 October 2006, but again it is unlikely that it will be debated.
Graham is therefore hoping to use the debate on Thursday to persuade the Government to either introduce a similar Bill of its own, or attach the legislation onto an existing Bill.
He said, “I am delighted to have been awarded this debate. This is an important issue for the town. Like many Beverley residents, I am concerned that this ancient tradition could die out unless action is taken now.
“That is why a Government Bill on this issue is so vital. It now looks likely that the Borough Freedom (Family Succession) Bill will fail to reach the statute book. It is therefore imperative that we lobby the Government as hard as possible. It is not a contentious issue and I cannot see why Ministers, once aware of the history behind the Bill and the circumstances surrounding the Beverley Pasture Masters, would object to bringing forward legislation of its own.
“The Pasture Masters is an ancient tradition dating back hundreds of years. It is unique to Beverley and therefore must not be allowed to die out. I hope to use the debate to remind Ministers of this.”
Notes to Editors:
Graham will introduce his adjournment debate on the Beverley Freemen and the Beverley Pasture Masters in the House of Commons on Thursday afternoon.
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