Memorandum submitted by Brian Iddon MP
1. Nominations for select committees should
be taken by the Parliamentary Labour Party, or equivalent body
for other political parties, and put to the membership of the
political parties for agreementby secret ballot, if that
is agreed.
2. I believe that the chairman of select
committees should be elected by those committees through taking
nominations and by holding secret ballots.
3. There should be much more "space"
for backbenchers to raise matters of concern (other than through
the very unsatisfactory procedures for adjournment debates, when
front bench spokespersons take up much of the time) for a wide
ranging debate along the lines of Opposition Days. When did we
last have such a debate (as in the early days of this Government)
on the Government's drug policy, for example? These debates could
take place even after the full sitting has ended on a Wednesday.
I would be prepared to see an extension of the parliamentary year
(shortened summer recess) to accommodate this.
4. The general public already initiate many
of the debates through public pressure or by raising campaigns
through individual MPs.
September 2009
|