Hansard Society urges MPs to reach a speedy consensus on Wright Committee recommendations - Jan 21, 2010
Changes must be in place before election
The Hansard Society, the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity, welcomes today's announcement that the recommendations of the House of Commons Reform Committee (the Wright Committee) will be debated on February 23 - nearly two months after their publication - and urges MPs to reach a speedy consensus so changes can be in place before the election.
Reforms suggested by the Wright Committee, 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 committee chairs and members, have serious implications for the new Parliament. If they are not implemented before the general election, we run the risk of months of delay during which a new government, of whatever political persuasion, could escape effective parliamentary scrutiny.
In addition, while the proposals to enhance Parliament's control over its own agenda, timetable and procedures are vital, more needs to be done to give the public a greater say over what happens in Parliament. The Wright Committee proposed a trial period for a Procedure and Petitions Committee and ‘urgent discussions' on the introduction of e-Petitions. So near the election, any trial period in this Parliament would be of only a few weeks' duration - far too short a time to effectively evaluate the process. During the debate on 23 February MPs therefore need to focus on how Parliament will engage with the public in future.
Dr Ruth Fox, Director of the Hansard Society's Parliament and Government Programme commented, ‘Delay in implementing the Wright Committee recommendations would not 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 MPs to strive for consensus and consider wider the effectiveness and duration of the public engagement proposals.'
For further information contact Virginia Gibbons at the Hansard Society on 020 7438 1225 or 07812 765 552
Editors' Notes
- The Hansard Society is the UK's leading non-partisan political research and education charity which exists to strengthen parliamentary democracy and encourage greater public involvement in politics. (http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/)
- The Hansard Society's evidence submission to the House of Commons Reform Committee can be found here