PARLIAMENTARY REFORM

That this House urges the Government to include within a constitutional renewal bill the election by secret ballot of a Business Committee of the House to arrange business whilst allowing proper time for Government legislation; the election of the Chairs and members of select committees by secret ballot, where priority is determined by the Liaison Committee; the right of the Chair of a select committee to table key recommendations of the committee for debate and vote by the House; the right of the House to establish its own independent commissions of inquiry and to ratify the membership and terms of reference of similar commissions appointed by Government; the election of an Estimates Committee for continuous examination of the value-for-money and effectiveness of the Government's expenditure programme; the annual election of the Whips by members of each political party; the right of select committees to ratify the nomination of Cabinet Ministers and to recall them where appropriate; the right of select committees to summon senior public appointees including permanent secretaries, key regulators, senior judges, police chiefs and ambassadors for pre-ratification hearings; the debate and voting upon by this House of petitions signed by a sufficient number of electors; the right of electors to recall an hon. Member who has been censured for a serious misdemeanour; the restriction of expenditure by each political party over a whole five-year term; and the enabling of small tax-free contributions to political parties by individual taxpayers.