House of Commons - Public Administration - Fifth Report

House of Commons portcullis

House of Commons

Session 2001-02
Publications on the internet
Public Administration Committee Publications

Public Administration - Fifth Report

Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 12 February 2002.

CONTENTS

Terms of Reference

REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Our Task

Our analysis

Our approach

The context of our inquiry

PART ONE: FINDING THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY

Our evidence

The survey results

Agreement on Fundamentals

The need for a second chamber
A Threat to Commons Pre-eminence?
Building on the strengths of the present Chamber
The Legitimacy Issue

PART TWO: OUR PROPOSALS

Role, functions and powers

A constitutional longstop
Links with devolution
Powers over secondary legislation

Principles of Composition

A wholly appointed chamber
A wholly elected second chamber
Predominantly Appointed Chamber with Elected Minority
The half way House: half appointed, half elected
A predominantly elected chamber

The Elected Members

Elected members to represent the nations and regions
Indirectly elected members from the devolved institutions
Size of constituencies
The electoral system
Timing of elections: the electoral cycle
Staggered elections, by halves or thirds
Linking the electoral cycle to the devolved assemblies
Electoral terms
Age limits

The Appointed Members

Principles of appointment
Balance between independent members and party nominees
Justification for retaining party nominees
Length of term for appointed members
Strengthening the Appointments Commission
Who appoints the Appointments Commission?
Role of the Appointments Commission in maintaining overall balance
Selection of the independent members

The Law

The Bishops

Size of the Second Chamber

Better support for members

Payment

Co-operating with the Commons

Other Issues

Name of Second Chamber and Title of Members

PART THREE: GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE

The next steps: Draft Bill, Joint Committee, Legislation

PART FOUR: THE WAY FORWARD

ANNEX A: The next steps: Draft Bill, Joint Committee, Legislation

ANNEX B: Getting from Here to There: A Model Timetable

SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING TO THE REPORT

LIST OF WITNESSES

LIST OF APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

UNPRINTED MEMORANDA

LIST OF REPORTS

LAST PARLIAMENT: SESSIONS 1997-2001

CURRENT PARLIAMENT: SESSION 2001-02

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE - VOLUME II (HC 494-II)

Thursday 10 January 2002
Thursday 17 January 2002
Thursday 24 January 2002

APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE - VOLUME II (HC 494-II)

© Parliamentary copyright 2002
Prepared 14 February 2002