MPs to vote on Wright recommendations

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MPs are to vote next month on proposals intended to give backbenchers more power to hold the government to account, the Commons leader has announced.

During questions on Commons business, Harriet Harman said several of the recommendations put forward by the Wright committee will be put before MPs to vote on February 23.

This would include measures for backbenchers get more power to call debates, to set the agenda and choose who sits on scrutiny committees.

Shadow leader of the Commons Sir George Young welcomed the "belated" decision to debate the findings, three months after the committee reported.

He called for assurance from the Commons leader that all the changes would be made before the dissolution of Parliament.

"The government firmly believes in strengthening the role of the House of Commons, and making Parliament more effective is an essential part of restoring public trust in our political system," Harman told the Commons.

"As the prime minister said yesterday, the government proposes to accept a large number of the recommendations of the Wright committee's report including the election of chairs of select committees, the election of members of select committees, a House committee for scheduling non-government business, and allowing backbenchers to initiate debates on motions which will be voted on by the House."

Sir Nicholas Winterton (Con, Macclesfield) welcomed the debate on reform of the House.

He added: "I believe that you have chosen the very important, fundamental matters which will give greater authority to backbenchers."

Committee chair Tony Wright (Lab, Cannock Chase) welcomed the announcement from the Leader of the House about setting a date for debate to discuss the report from the Commons reform committee.

He said, "I welcome what you said about a secure date for the House to consider the report from the reform committee, and endorse your hope that the House will want to operate on a consensual basis and have a mechanism that will enable the House to come to some firm decisions."

Harman responded that she was grateful to the committee for finding "quite profound and radical solutions", reinforcing her determination to work on a cross-party basis to secure agreement.

However, Natascha Engel (Lab, North East Derbyshire) called for a guarantee that none of the committee's reform would be introduced without a full debate in the House, stating that not all members of the committee had agreed with all of its proposals.

She said: "I was on that committee, and I was not part of that consensus."

The Commons leader responded that there would be "full debate" on the decisions made by the Wright committee.

In other exchanges, public accounts committee chair Edward Leigh (Con, Gainsborough) called for committees to be provided with more resources and control over departmental spending.

And Evan Harris (Lib Dem, Oxford West and Abingdon) called for a vote on moves to limit rigid timetabling of legislation.

Harman responded that MPs must not make the best the "enemy of the good".

She added: "The point is to make a start on those areas where there is the widest possible agreement."

Liberal Democrat business spokesman David Heath addressed concerns surrounding the £11.9bn takeover of Cadbury and said that the prime minsiter's response had been "a little bit Curly Wurly, possibly Flakey".

He asked the Commons leader: "Can we have a statement on the role of Royal Bank of Scotland, a bank owned by the British people, in providing the financing of a takeover by a British company by an American conglomerate? I think there is an issue there which has to be answered."

Harman responded that she would not give a "flakey response but perhaps a Crunchie response" and announced there will be a debate on the floor of the House on the adjournment next week.

She added: "People are concerned, not only about their pride in this historic brand but also above all the work that is generated for the 5,500 people in factories up and down the country."