Ann McKechin MP (P33)
I write with regard to the Procedure Committee's
consultation on e-petitions. I fully support the modernisation
of the petitions system for the Commons to reflect the changing
ways that constituents communicate and campaign. I believe that
it is important that as elected representatives we find more effective
ways in which we can be contacted by our constituents about matters
that concern them.
The current system for petitioning the Commons
does not reflect modern campaigning and communication methods
and is largely unknown amongst the general public. E-petitioning
would be one way of modernising the process but it would need
to be managed in such a way as to allow Parliament to respond
adequately to the issues raised. It would not be satisfactory
to create a system that led to an overload of petitions to which
Parliament was not able to respond effectively.
I would suggest that the Committee considers
whether a minimum number of signatures would be required before
a formal response could be provided. Distinction would have to
be made however to allow genuinely pressing but fundamentally
local/regional concerns to be raised as well as those of more
national significance. The type of Parliamentary response should
also be varied according to the numbers received on any one petition—this
could range from a formal response being requested from a government
department, referral to a select committee for further inquiry
or to a Westminster Hall debate or even in the case of a very
large petition a debate on the floor of the main Chamber.
I look forward to reading your recommendations
in due course.
January 2008
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