Tony Wright

Parliament should have a greater role in investigating government scandals say MPs.

The call came form the Commons public administration committee following a series of independent investigations into government scandals.

Among high profile reviews of recent times have been Lord Hutton's review of the death of Dr David Kelly, Lord Butler's investigation of intelligence on Iraq and Sir Alan Budd's investigation of events leading up to David Blunkett's resignation as home secretary.

Calling for reforms to the way such inquires are conducted, the MPs said parliament should have a role in determining the scope of the subject to be investigated.

The liaison committee of select committee chairmen should consider if a matter of public concern "should be the subject of a formal inquiry".

If so, then the Commons should vote on the issue and establish the inquiry, said the MPs.

There was also backing for a move to establish a government unit to provide permanent support for such investigations.

"We welcome the fact that the government is legislating to codify the inquiry process, which plays an important role in our public life, but we do not want to see parliament removed from the picture," said committee chairman Tony Wright.

"This is why we are proposing that there should be a parliamentary commission established in those politically contentious cases where the conduct of government is an issue.

"There is a real challenge for parliament here, if it wants to reclaim territory that it has lost to the executive, and I hope our proposals will enable it to rise to this challenge."