The House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee (PCRC) have expressed their deep disappointment that the Government has abandoned a pledge in the Coalition Agreement by rejecting the PCRC proposal for a House Business Committee.

The Better Government Initiative has always supported the establishment of a House Business Committee on the lines proposed by the Wright Committee, so we share the PCRC’s disappointment.

The Government seems determined to resist constructive proposals from the PCRC that are designed to improve the workings of Parliament. The latest rejection follows the recent rejection of PCRC proposals for a Code of Legislative Standards and a Legislative Standards Committee, which we also strongly supported as a way of achieving better government.

We urge Parliament to continue to press the Government on these three proposals and hope that the Government will ultimately reconsider its position on each of them.