HC Deb 06 November 2001 vol 374 c197W
48. Ms Coffey

To ask the President of the Council what plans he has for wider consultation of the public on modernisation of the House.[10358]

50. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the President of the Council if he will make a statement on progress in the modernisation of the House.[10360]

53. Anne Picking

To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to improve the parliamentary scrutiny of Bills.[10363]

55. Joan Ryan

To ask the President of the Council what plans he has to make proposals for greater involvement of Select Committees in pre-legislative scrutiny.[10365]

Mr. Robin Cook

During its current investigations into Select Committees, the Modernisation Committee has decided, for the first time, to take evidence in public. It has already heard from the Hansard Society, Professor the Lord Norton of Louth and from Lord Sheldon, the Chair of the Liaison Committee in the previous Parliament.

The Modernisation Committee has asked me to provide a strategy paper setting out the broader objectives for Commons reform, which I will present to the Committee at the end of the month.

I hope that the Modernisation Committee's proposals for reform will result in a Parliament that is relevant to voters, reflects their concerns and re-engages the public with the political process.