§ 44. Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston)What progress has been made with plans for the creation of a Main Committee. [77414]
§ The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)The Modernisation Committee agreed a report on Wednesday, and I expect it to be published on Tuesday 13 April. I hope that the House will have an early opportunity to debate it.
§ Ms StuartI thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. Will she elaborate on whether she expects that the creation of a Main Committee will allow greater scrutiny and debate than the current Select Committee structure?
§ Mrs. BeckettThe motivation behind examining and making such a proposal is to allow more time for ordinary Members to raise matters on which they would want debates, and to provide extra time for some of the excellent business for which, sadly, it is difficult to find time on the Floor of the House, such as debates on Select Committee reports.