by Newswire

Green MP Caroline Lucas has published a report outlining her vision for a more efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly Parliament.

The report, entitled The Case For Parliamentary Reform, will shine a light on some of the most archaic procedures and processes of the House of Commons – and outline the urgent need for reform through changes to the way Westminster works.

Since being elected to parliament six months ago, I have been deeply shocked by the inefficiency of the outdated systems at Westminster. As the Government’s programme of severe spending cuts to reduce the deficit comes into force, the financial cost to the tax payer of time-wasting in Westminster takes on a new and more urgent significance. For example, an electronic voting system would make far better use of MPs’ time; just queuing up to vote accounts for around £30,000 a week in MPs’ salary costs. In the last Parliament there were over 1200 votes. Since it takes about 15 minutes per vote, that means an MP with an 85 per cent voting record would have spent over 250 hours queuing to vote – a huge waste of time and money.

Among the report’s proposals are:

The introduction of electronic voting, which it is estimated could save 1.5 hours or more (1) of MPs’ time a week, and thus for time wasted save around £30,000 salary costs per week

A systematic overhaul of Parliamentary language to make it self-explanatory, thus demystifying parliamentary processes, and increasing transparency and accountability.

Measures to prevent the “talking out” of Private Members’ Bills

Increase transparency so MPs (and constituents) know in advance if they have been selected to speak in a debate. Greater use by the Speaker on limits on backbench speaking time.

An end to late night sittings to make MPs hours and those of parliamentary staff more family friendly.

Caroline Lucas adds:

The reforms outlined in my report would be straight-forward and cost-effective to achieve. Some build on previous proposals from the Wright Committee and from the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons. Some have been agreed in the past, but not implemented. Others were rejected by previous parliaments at a different time. Some are new proposals, drawn in particular from experience in other legislatures. A new parliament, in new circumstances, should examine them again.

From a press release