"Shifting the Balance"

HC Deb 27 June 2000 vol 352 cc716-7

47. Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York)

What recent representations she has received on the first report from the Liaison Committee, "Shifting the Balance" (HC300); and if she will make a statement. [126383]

The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett)

A number of Members have made informal representations to me, or raised the issue at Question Time. The Government response to the report was published on 18 May.

Miss McIntosh

Will the President of the Council and Leader of the House allow a debate in Government time on the issues raised in the report, which concern many of us who are members of important Select Committees such as that led by the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody): the Transport Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs? Will it be possible to have such a debate before the end of term, so that we can consider a structure alternative to the present one and give the Select Committees the real teeth that many of us believe they should have?

Mrs. Beckett

Of course that is a matter that should be discussed by the House. The hon. Lady may know that the Liaison Committee has invited me to give evidence to it, which I am very prepared to do. I had assumed that the Committee would prefer its debate to take place after that date. I cannot undertake to be confident of finding time before the summer recess—if that is what she means—but I anticipate and hope that the matter will be discussed before the current Session ends.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich)

rose—

Hon. Member

s: Hear, hear!

Mrs. Dunwoody

As if I do not have enough trouble.

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the report is the distillation of a lot of experience of all the Select Committee Chairmen. It is a serious report; I know that she accepts that. I hope that the House will have the chance to look at it because, if we are looking at modernisation, that is the way to go. We can produce some real scrutiny of legislation. It is something that should be supported by every Member.

Mrs. Beckett

I share my hon. Friend's view that the report is weighty and has considerable implications for every Member. I also share her view that it should therefore be taken seriously by the House. I hope that that will happen in and before the debate to which she refers.