MPs on the constitutional affairs committee have given a broad welcome to changes in the legislation designed to establish a UK supreme court.

In a report on the controversial Constitutional Reform Bill, the Commons select committee said amendments to the original proposals had dealth with many of their concerns.

The government is using the legislation to implement its plans to abolish the office of lord chancellor.

The proposed law will also create a new supreme court, removing the law lords from the upper house, and overhaul the system for judicial appointments.

Critics attacked the original proposals, saying the lack of consultation showed the disregard with which ministers treated the constitution.

There have also been fears that judicial independence could be undermined under the proposed changes.

But Friday's report from the Commons constitutional affairs committee said amendments, some put forward by the government and others forced through by the Lords, had met many of their previous concerns.

But they said the historic title of lord chancellor "and its distinctive status, different from that of all other members of the Cabinet" should be retained.

The MPs accepted that the lord chancellor should lose responsibility for chairing proceedings in the House of Lords.

"We consider it to be for the House of Lords to decide who should sit in the Woolsack, but that it is reasonable to assume that, if the Bill is passed, the lord chancellor, who has responsibility for running a large government department, should not have that role," said the report.

"We are pleased to see that the Bill has been amended to meet our concerns about the independence of the administration and budget of the Supreme Court," added the committee.

There was a welcome for moves to ensure that the supreme court is based in adequate buildings once it leaves the House of Lords.

"Many of the points raised by us in our first report have now been dealt with in the bill, as amended," said the report.

"We are especially pleased that the new supreme court will not be established until proper accommodation has been found for it and that the arrangements for the administration and finance of the supreme court have been improved in ways which will strengthen its independence."

The MPs added that the legislation "is now a more effective vehicle to achieve the government's objectives of creating a supreme court outside the legislature and maintaining the independence of the judiciary".