Modernisation Committee

CommonsSelectest. 25 Jul 2024Email ↗● Actively Monitored
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Sessions analysed3
Positions8
Recommendations17

Latest Signals

09 Jun 2026Petitions belong in a dedicated Petitions CommitteeBackbench Business CommitteePosition
“[Speaker: Natascha Engel] Definitely the Petitions Committee. The setting up of the Petitions Committee was great. I think it was a great innovation. However, we should look at how the application process works, and at the arbitrary setting of 10,000 and 100,000 signatories.”
09 Jun 2026Petition debates should not automatically sit in the ChamberBackbench Business CommitteePosition
09 Jun 2026Petition thresholds create false expectationsBackbench Business CommitteeConcern
09 Jun 2026Committee was stretched by taking on e-petitionsBackbench Business CommitteeConcern
09 Jun 2026Petition debates can fail without a Member to lead themBackbench Business CommitteeConcern
09 Jun 2026Backbench Business should stay focused on backbench scrutinyBackbench Business CommitteePosition
09 Jun 2026Government time pressures distorted BBCom schedulingBackbench Business CommitteeConcern
23 Jun 2026Chamber should not be treated as inherently superiorHouse of CommonsPosition

Recent Sessions

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23 Jun 2026Commons debate time: petitions and Backbench Business
3 pos1 concern7 rec
09 Jun 2026Backbench Business and petitions: time, fit and control
3 pos4 concern4 rec
19 May 2026Backbench Business and petitions time allocation
2 pos3 concern6 rec

Recent Commitments

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No commitments captured yet.

Recent Recommendations

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Frequent Witnesses

House of Commons2× · 13 insights
Backbench Business Committee1× · 11 insights
Petitions Committee1× · 5 insights
UCL Constitution Unit1× · 2 insights
University of Manchester1× · 2 insights

About this committee

The Commons Modernisation Committee scrutinises the procedures and working practices of the House of Commons to identify efficiency improvements and reforms. The committee operates as a House of Commons select committee and takes oral evidence from members, officials, and other witnesses. It examines how parliamentary business is conducted and identifies barriers to effective scrutiny and participation. Recent work has focused on access to House procedures and how members engage with parliamentary mechanisms, with sessions examining the operation of the Commons in June and July 2025. The committee has also investigated the role and effectiveness of the Backbench Business Committee and Petitions Committee in enabling members to raise constituent concerns and secure debate time. This reflects the committee's ongoing concern with how the House can improve responsiveness to both backbench MPs and the public.