Committee releases report on implementing Commons reform

• Report: Rebuilding the House: Implementation
• Report: Rebuilding the House
• Reform of the House of Commons Committee
• Parliament News: MPs vote for Commons reform

The House voted on 22 February and 4 March 2010 to approve and in some cases give effect to many of the recommendations made in the Committee's November 2009 report, 'Rebuilding the House'.

Significant and welcome steps have now been taken on the path to reform.

The one remaining task for this Parliament is the agreement of the Standing Orders framework necessary for the establishment of a Backbench Business Committee to start work as soon as practicable after the start of the new Parliament.

This report proposes such Standing Orders, covering the necessary definition of what constitutes backbench business, the means of election of the Chair and members of the committee, and the means by which its conclusions can be agreed by the House.

The Select Committee on Reform of the House of Commons was appointed on 20 July 2009 to consider and report on four specified matters;

• the appointment of members and chairmen of select committees
• the appointment of the Chairman and Deputy Chairmen of Ways and Means
• scheduling business in the House
• enabling the public to initiate debates and proceedings in the House