Modernisation Committee pushes ahead with change agenda

• Modernisation Committee memorandum on its next steps
• Modernisation Committee

Next steps

Publishing a memorandum on its early work, the Committee announces it will undertake a major work programme focusing on improving the accessibility of proceedings, the effectiveness of the Commons and creating more certainty about Parliamentary business – to make the Commons more effective and inclusive.

This is alongside ongoing work to further interrogate MPs’ outside earnings and consider the implementation of recommendations on the ICGS.

Over the past few months, the Committee has heard from over 700 individuals and organisations whose views have shaped its areas of focus.

The Committee recognises that times have changed, and the role of an MP has changed over time as has the make-up of the Commons. How the House conducts business needs to reflect that.

The Committee will consider the accessibility of the physical parliamentary estate and of procedures, language and information. It will seek to narrow the gap between Parliament and the public, ensuring the way Parliament works is inclusive and more easily understood. These issues were very strongly put to the Committee in many of the submissions received.

On the effectiveness of the Commons, the Committee will examine how to make better use of the time available within existing sitting hours to facilitate effective scrutiny of legislation, and to give backbenchers and smaller parties a fair opportunity to raise issues or causes ensuring the Commons remains the crucible of national debate.

The Committee will also explore practical ways to provide MPs with more certainty about business, with a view to making the House of Commons as effective as possible.

Since its establishment, the Committee has kicked off and supported work on a number of areas, including the Committee on Standards inquiry into MPs’ outside interests and the Procedure Committee’s inquiry into proxy voting.

The Committee is also involved in discussions to take forward recommendations from the independent review into Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

Commenting, Lucy Powell MP, Chair of the Modernisation Committee and Leader of the House of Commons, said:

“To close the gap between Parliament and the public it’s clear that the House of Commons needs to change, modernise and become more effective.

“The role of an MP has changed, no longer just legislators, but increasingly helping constituents with problems, being visible and active in the communities we represent. We have a greater diversity of MPs and a broader range of political parties in the Commons than ever before, but some of our processes and procedures don’t reflect this new reality.

“As a Committee, we want to ensure MPs are as effective as possible in raising their constituents’ concerns. It’s in all our interests to renew our democracy, and make Parliament work better for the people who put us here.”

The Committee will continue to work with all members of the Parliamentary community on other issues on which there is a good chance of achieving consensus.

A summary of the views submitted can be read in the Committee’s memorandum on its next steps, and the written evidence submissions received from organisations can be read online.

Further information

The Modernisation Committee was established in the summer of 2024 and in September set out its key strategic aims of driving up standards, improving culture and working practices and reforming procedures to make the Commons more effective. 

• Find out more about the Modernisation Committee’s key strategic aims.

Last year, the Committee held a number of engagement events with MPs, MPs' staff, House staff and others as well as gathering views from the wider Parliamentary community and external stakeholders, resulting in hundreds of individuals submitting their views to the committee.

The Committee Chair and Leader of the House of Commons has appeared before the Procedure Committee to discuss the Committee’s work and appeared in front of the Standards Committee to discuss outside employment and interests.

Image: House of Commons