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Report from the House of Commons Reform Committee on Rebuilding the House

Does the hon. Gentleman accept that, if Committees are worth while, Members are queuing up, knocking on the door to try to get on them? It is only when Committees, very often at the Government's request, are not effective, are neutralised and have people put on them who will not hold the Government to account—as, indeed, my right hon. Friend the Member for North-West Durham (Hilary Armstrong) and I used to do in the Whips Office—that they are often not worth Members' time in attending.