APPENDIX 12
Letter from Sir Sydney Chapman MP to the
Chairman of the Committee
In the last Parliament I was Chairman of the
Accommodation and Works Committee and, as such, was a member of
the Liaison Committee.
I very much support that Committee's reports
seeking changes to various aspects of the Select Committees, including
the ability of the House itself to select membership (rather than
the Whips offices). It seems to me that it is wrong for the Government
(effectively) to decide who and who should not be on each Select
Committee.
I believe that this view is widespread among
our parliamentary colleagues and, while I appreciate that the
selection for committees has now been made, I do believe that
in future the system should be changed. In the meantime, any vacancies
should be filled by the appropriate Party's MPs on what they feel
is the most suitable method.
28 July 2001
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