Memorandum submitted by Sir Patrick Cormack
FSA MP
I do not wish to burden you with a long letter
but I would like to make the following points.
1. Members of select committees should be appointed
by a new selection committee, which is not dominated by the Whips.
Members wishing to serve on select committees should make their
applications direct to a committee of selection, and it should
bear in mind a variety of factors, such as knowledge and experience
on the subject, location of constituency, age and seniority, in
making its selection. It should be a requirement that no Member
should be appointed to more than one select committee and that
every Member appointed to a select committee have a 60% attendance
record. Each committee should elect its own chairman.
3. I have made separate representations on this
subject to the Committee of Privileges.
4. The business of the House should be determined
by a business committee chaired either by the Speaker or the Chairman
of Ways and Means.
5. If there is an independent business committee
it will obviously take into account matters of great public interest
when determining the business of the House. There should be one
topical debate per week, and it should take place between 7.30-10.00
pm on a Wednesday evening, and the subject should be chosen by
the business committee.
I hope these comments are helpful and if you
wish me to expand on any of them I will gladly do so.
September 2009
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