The committee is calling on the government to set out its thinking on the issue before the next election and for all parties to consider the implications for public spending, in their next election manifestos.

BBC: UK woefully underprepared for ageing society, say peers

"The Labour Party are quite right when they challenge Alex Salmond on this - they say you can't have Scandinavian-style public services and American-level taxes, " said Mr Harvie, who also claimed that Labour had not set out its own position on the issue.

BBC: Your questions: Patrick Harvie

Sir George suggested Mr Griffiths should raise the issue with the liaison group, set up to iron out issues between Ipsa and MPs.

BBC: Ipsa must 'raise its game', MPs told

For now, Mr Solbes points out, this is not an issue: the rule is set by treaty, and a change is not in prospect.

ECONOMIST: Pedro Solbes, commissioner for the euro

By coming out with his own set of sensible proposals, Bush checkmated Gore on the environmental issue.

FORBES: Election Stranger Than Fiction

Interestingly, this week's statement of forthcoming Commons business, by the Leader of the House, Andrew Lansley, mentioned that Tuesday 19 March has been set aside for "proceedings on a bill", which might signal the deadline for sorting out the issue and bringing the Defamation Bill back.

BBC: Week ahead

Antiabortion activists following the case have focused particularly on questions about babies born alive in the course of induced abortions, renewing a campaign around the issue more than a decade after they secured a 2002 federal law that set out legal rights for infants delivered with signs of life in the course of an attempted abortion.

WSJ: Philadelphia Abortion Doctor Gosnell Convicted of Murder