Agenda

Refreshments and Registration

Recent events; hung Parliament and the New Coalition Government- how is this going to affect scrutiny of Government and the passage of legislation.

Fixed term Parliaments; 50% of Lib Dems with Government jobs; Only one main opposition party, what future for PMQs, voting strength in Lords etc.

Chairman's Welcome and Introduction

• Lord Norton of Louth, Professor of Government, Hull University (confirmed)

Government Accountability to Parliament

• What impact will the Changes and Reform of Parliamentary Scrutiny have on the Executive (including government departments)?
• How will a reduction in the payroll vote impact on the legislative agenda and the civil service?
• How will the need to compromise on policy issues within the coalition impact on the legislative programme?
• What would be the consequences for the civil service of longer parliamentary sessions?
• How will the influx of over 200 new MPs in 2010 affect the organisational dynamic of the House of Commons?
• What are the implications of the diminished power of the whips –under changes based on the Wright Committee Report- and the greater need for whipping to keep the coalition programme together have on parliamentary Democracy?
• How can the civil service plan to deal with improved scrutiny and greater uncertainty of parliamentary processes?
• What impact would a diminished role and influence of the whips have on parliamentary Democracy?
• A former Business Manager

• Lord Tyler CBE DL, Liberal Democrat Constitution Spokesperson, House of Lords; former Shadow Leader of the House of Commons (confirmed)
• Rt Hon Lord Butler KG GCB CVO, former Cabinet Secretary (confirmed)

Morning Coffee

Session Two
The Effect of Changes to the Legislative Programme

• How will a reduction in Government (L committee and business managers’) control of the legislative programme impact on civil service resources and planning?
• What impact will the ‘free votes’ and abstentions for Liberal Democrats have on the legislative programme?
• How will the civil service deal with the uncertainty of new players (including the public and to a greater extent backbenchers) influencing the legislative agenda?
• How can the civil service set up resources, structures and procedures to identify policy issues and players and develop handling strategies?

• Dr Evan Harris MP, former Member, House of Commons Reform Committee (confirmed)
• Paul Evans, Senior House of Commons Clerk, House of Commons (invited)
• Peter Luff MP, former Chairman, BIS Select Committee (confirmed)

Lunch

Session Three
The Effect of Changes to Appointments and Composition of Select Committees

• How will reduced government influence over select committees impact on departments of state?
• Will a reduction in the number of MPs per committee impact on the depth of questioning in committee inquiries and the briefing necessary for officials to provide to ministers?
• What opportunities may these changes offer to NGOs, local authorities, and the third sector?
• [waiting for advice from Robert Rodgers on composition]

• Rt Hon Sir George Young Bt MP, Leader of the House of Commons; Member, House of Commons Reform Committee (confirmed)
• Peter Riddell, Political Commentator and Assistant Editor, The Times; Chair, the Hansard Society (invited)
• Kevin Barron MP, Former Chair, Health Select Committee (confirmed)

Afternoon Tea

Session Four
Empowering Local Authorities and the Public to Impact on and to Lobby Parliament

• How would the civil service cope with allocating resources and time to handling e-petitions?
• What procedures and mechanisms would Parliament put in place to deal with e-petitions (Scotland as a model?)
• What impact would a change in the voting system have for government, parliament and the civil service?
• What future for regional select committees and how will this in turn impact on local authorities and regional development agencies?
• What is the likely impact on local councillors and cabinet members of possible changes to regional select committee and regional ministerial structures and responsibilities?
• Given the new Coalition Government: What new opportunities exist for lobbying organisations of all kinds to influence the political, parliamentary and legislative agendas?

• Lord Smith of Leigh, Chair, Association of Greater Manchester Authorities; Leader, Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council (confirmed)
• Lionel Zetter, former President, Chartered Institute of Public Relations (confirmed)
• Henry Smith, Leader, West Sussex County Council (confirmed)

Session Five
Implications of Change in the House of Lords

• With voting strength for the Coalition Government in the Lords, guaranteeing a Government success what if any revising role is left for the Lords?
• The Coalition pact suggests the composition of the House of Lords should reflect the popular vote in the General Election; how would this change the role, character and power of the House of Lords?
• What impact would there be on departments of state if (as some commentators suggest) ministers were removed from the legislature?
• How can departments of state most effectively respond to the cross cutting nature of joint committees in the briefing and support they provide?
• With- effectively- only one main party of opposition how will the allocation of time for debates and scrutiny be allocated?
• How will the usual channels be composed and what will be its role – given the voting strength of the coalition Government?
• As the House of Lords becomes more legitimate, how do the two Houses resolve tensions between themselves?
• Is the Select Committee system more important than ever in the scrutiny of Government?

• Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza CB, Convenor of the Crossbench Peers (confirmed)
• Rt Hon Lord Grocott, former Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; former Deputy Speaker and Chief Whip (confirmed)
• Baroness Scott of Needham Market, President, Liberal Democrats (confirmed)

Close