IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIAISON COMMITTEE REPORT

Early day motion 1079, tabled 24 October 2000 by Gordon Prentice (Labour). Signed by 32 members.

That this House recalls that Early Day Motion 476 warmly welcomed the First Report of the Liaison Committee, Session 1999-2000, (HC 300), published on 2nd March, which observed that the membership of select committees is effectively under the control of the whips and that honourable Members have been kept off select committees because of their views and that this is wrong in principle; recognises that the Early Day Motion has been supported by 244 honourable Members and that the Leader of the House confirmed on 13th July that there would be a separate debate on the Liaison Committee's report; further notes that on the same day the Prime Minister told the Leader of the Opposition that there would be a free vote on the Report's recommendations, as there would be on the Conservative side; and, in the light of the statements made on 23rd October by candidates seeking election to the Speakership and by other honourable Members expressing concerns at the way in which Parliament had allowed itself to be side-lined, calls upon the Leader of the House to make Government time available to debate and vote on the Liaison Committee report.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 4, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 1.