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Administration Committee

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. I think that he will recognise that the power to change matters rests inevitably more with Government Back Benchers than with Opposition Back Benchers. I hope that he will use his substantial influence among his colleagues to persuade them of his case for reform. My final point concerns the Administration Committee. I welcome the appointment of an Administration Committee rationalising the domestic Committees that we had before. I used to find it somewhat odd that somebody who wanted to become a Member of Parliament, won an election, came here and wanted to hold the Government to account found themselves appointed to the Catering Committee. Given the pressure on Members’ time, it must be right to streamline administration matters and have one Committee doing all those tasks, freeing up Members for more important jobs in holding the Government to account. I was impressed by what my right hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) said in moving his amendment, and I shall listen to the arguments from Members on the other side of the House, but I am minded to support my right hon. Friend and the Chairman of the Speaker’s Panel.