Connecting Parliament with the Public
The role of the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons is to consider how the practices and procedures of the House of Commons should be modernised and reformed. The Chair of the Committee is Peter Hain MP, the Leader of the House of Commons. There are 15 MPs on the Committee, with representatives from each of the three main political parties. Since it was established in 1997, the Committee has proposed major changes to the working of the House, including the setting up of a parallel Chamber in westminster Hall, the introduction of programming (timetabling) of bills and significant changes to the House’s sitting hours.
The Committee is currently undertaking an inquiry called Connecting Parliament with the Public. The inquiry is aimed at finding ways in which the House of Commons can make itself more accessible and understandable to the general public. To this end it is, taking evidence from individual members of the public and outside organisations and, for the first time, holding an on-line consultation on the subject. The Committee has also been holding meetings around the country to find out what people think should be changed. If you require any further information, please e-mail us or visit the Committee’s home page.
The issue of how Parliament communicates with members of the public is wide-reaching and multi-layered. However, for the purpose of this consultation, there are four main areas where your views would be particularly welcome. These are:
- How to improve access to the building and information about the Commons,
- What can Parliament do to help improve understanding of its work?
- How to improve communication between Parliament and public
- Do Parliamentary debates reflect public concerns