MPs must regain control of the House of Commons to restore the public's faith in politics in the wake of the expenses scandal, a major cross-party committee has said.

The committee warned that Parliament is "in crisis" and called for new powers for backbench MPs to call debates and greater scrutiny of ministers.

The 18-member House of Commons Reform Committee, chaired by Labour MP Tony Wright, was set up in response to the expenses scandal earlier this year.

In its report it called for the Commons to approve within two months proposals including setting up a secretly-elected backbench business committee to reassert the role of MPs in setting the agenda.

One day a week of Commons time should be dictated by backbenchers, it said, with the weekly schedule set by a committee of government, opposition and backbench representatives.

The committee added that public petitions of Parliament should be treated more seriously, sometimes prompting debates in the chamber.

It also called for select committee chairmen to be elected by MPs rather than appointed by party whips as at present.

The report says: "Public confidence in the House and in members as a whole has been low for some time, but not as low as now. It is not too much to say that the institution is in crisis."

It adds: "At present many members do not see the point in attending debates or making the House the primary focus of their activities.

"In order to address this, we must give members back a sense of ownership of their own institution, the ability to set its agenda and take meaningful decisions, and ensure the business of the chamber is responsive to public concerns."

The leader of the Commons, Harriet Harman, promised to consider the report's recommendations and respond in detail.

She said: "Since 1997, there have been many changes to achieve better scrutiny and more accountability.

"Today's report is a further step following action the House has taken to modernise its procedures. We will continue to reform Parliament to strengthen the role of backbenchers and to support the proper role of the House of Commons to scrutinise government and hold it to account."

The shadow leader of the Commons, Sir George Young, welcomed the report and said it was "broadly in line" with what the Conservatives had already pledged.

 

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