HC Deb 12 February 2002 vol 380 c146W
51. Jim Dobbin

To ask the President of the Council what proposals he has for reform of the system for the appointment of members to select committees. [32389]

Mr. Robin Cook

The Modernisation Committee published its first report on select committees this morning.

The committee recommends that a new Nominations Committee, chaired by the chairman of Ways and Means and including seven of the most senior members of the Chairman's Panel, should be responsible for overseeing the process of nominations to select committees.

We believe that the new committee will be provide an independent mechanism, placing nominations to all select committees in the hands of an independent authoritative body and ensuring that the nominations to the committees that scrutinise Government are in the hands of the Commons.