MPs debate reform of the Commons
23 February 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
MPs debated Commons reform based on the recent report, 'Rebuilding the House', produced by the Reform of the House of Commons Select Committee, chaired by Dr Tony Wright MP.
- Video and Audio: Rebuilding the House debate
- Commons Hansard: Rebuilding the House debate
- Reform of the House of Commons Committee
- Report: Rebuilding the House
The report proposed reforms in three major areas:
Select committees
- chairs of select committees be elected by secret ballot of the whole House
- committee members be elected by secret ballot from within party groups
Business of the House
- setting up a Backbench Business Committee, responsible for all business which is not strictly Ministerial
- setting up a cross-party Government Business Committee to schedule government business
Public involvement
- introducing an e-petitions system with the presentation of petitions to be given greater significance in the House's proceedings
- identifying a monthly backbench Motion suitable for debate
- developing some form of initiative which might enable the public to ensure that a given issue is debated in the House