Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative). It was answered on Tuesday, 13 December 2005 on behalf of the Leader of the House of Commons.

Select Committees

Question: The Modernisation Committee of the House of Commons has existed and operated in this House for eight years. Although it is only appointed until the end of the present Parliament, it has become a permanent fixture of the House, whether we like it or not. Is not it wrong that a major Select Committee that can influence the way in which the House operates should not have a representative on the Liaison Committee, which is the Committee of all the Chairmen of the Select Committees of this House? Will the Minister review the issue as a matter of urgency and fairness?

Answer: The Modernisation Committee may indeed be fairly new in terms of the history of this House and it may indeed, to use the hon. Member's words, be a permanent fixture, but it is not in our permanent Standing Orders. I pay tribute to the valuable role that the Modernisation Committee plays in this place, but there are other Committees whose Chairs are not represented either. It is, of course, open to any Member or any Committee of this House to make direct representations to the Liaison Committee, and I urge the hon. Member to do that.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 440 c1230-1
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: House of Commons Parliament Modernisation Reform Modernisation Committee
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk