Chance missed on Commons Reform - January 15, 2010
Letter to the Guardian published:
Despite the Wright committee's report on reform of the House of Commons attracting praise and enthusiasm across the political parties (Letters, 14 January), at today's business questions,
the government again failed to schedule a Commons debate on its
recommendations. Reforms such as establishment of a business committee,
enshrining a commitment to set up select committees within six weeks of
parliament returning, and elections for select committees, have serious
implications for the new parliament.
If they are not implemented
before the general election, we run the risk of months of delay –
months during which a new government, of whatever political persuasion,
could escape effective parliamentary scrutiny. This cannot be good for
public confidence in our parliamentary democracy and should be of deep
concern to MPs across the house. There is very little time left to
implement these recommendations and the Hansard Society calls on the
house to put pressure on the government to make time available to
debate and vote on these vital reforms.
Fiona Booth
Chief executive, Hansard Society
See the letter on the Guardian website here