11 July 2008
Regional select committees should be established to scrutinise the work of regional development agencies, the Commons' cross-party modernisation committee has recommended.
Although RDAs are already answerable to ministers, and through them to Parliament, the committee said more should be done to monitor the delivery of services and boost accountability in the English regions.
MPs might also choose to take account of the work of other agencies operating at regional level, such as strategic health authorities and the Learning and Skills Council. However, the July 10 report does not prescribe a list of organisations.
Modernisation committee chair Harriet Harman said: 'The committee proposes both select committees and grand committees for each region to provide an effective and proportionate approach to filling this accountability gap.
'The existing select committees have built up a strong reputation for robust and effective scrutiny of government policy over the years since their creation. Our proposals would be the single greatest expansion of this system since 1979.'
The report recommends that regional committees meet less frequently than departmental select committees to ensure scrutiny is proportionate. They would also be able to meet within their own regions.
The new select committees would be made up of no more than ten MPs reflecting the political make-up of the Commons. Grand committees would involve all the MPs from a given region and should meet twice a session, either in Westminster or in the region.
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