Rebuilding the House - House of Commons Reform Committee Contents


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 agreement—by 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






 
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