APPENDIX 8
Letter from Mr Anthony Steen MP to the
Chairman of the Committee
QUESTIONING THE
EXECUTIVE
We seem to have too much time on our hands,
indicated particularly by too many committees spending too much
energy and effort on introspective evaluation on whether the Commons
works well, rather than outward analysis of whether we are doing
anything useful at all. There seems to be a disease prevalent
and contagious that drags MPs into assessing and evaluating everything
we do on the basis that there must be changes that can be made
to make an even better Parliament. Laudable though that aim is,
the reality is very different. The Commons is losing its clout
and influence not because of inadequate procedures, but largely
due to what Members see as important.
The lack of respect and powers that individual
Members have has generated a growing apathy and disinterest amongst
members of the public and the media to Parliamentary life. It
is as if over the last five years the Commons has become a County
Council rather than a national Parliament. The questionnaire you
enclosed is akin to a MORI poll, and whatever is done with the
results will not alter the underlying malaise. Parliament is being
seen as increasingly irrelevant and we are failing to produce
Members with the charm, vision and intellect that were the hallmark
over the preceding decades of many Parliamentarians.
I am only sorry that the Procedure Committee
has joined many others in tinkering with details rather than focusing
on the bigger picture. Forgive me, but I do hope you will not
produce another report suggesting change for change's sake.
16 November 2001
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