APPENDIX 19
Letter from Mr Mark Fisher MP and the
Rt Hon Sir George Young MP to the Chairman of the Committee
MODERNISATION AND
SELECT COMMITTEES
Further to your answers at last week's business
question, we write to reiterate the two fundamental characteristics
that we feel any new system of selecting the Select Committees
should have:
Independence
From pressure or influence by Government and
the Whips of any political party. We were pleased that you seemed
to indicate your agreement with this last week.
Transparency
We were somewhat concerned that you appeared
to be sceptical or unenthusiastic about the idea of publishing
the names of all who applied. Since these are public positions,
it is hard to see why an applicant would object to publication.
It would not be difficult to issue lists of applicants and it
would offer a simple but effective way of demonstrating that no
outstanding applicants have been ignored.
24 October 2001
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