Andrew Blick (London, Democratic Audit): Is Parliament equipped to do the job required of it if the Governance of Britain reform programme is to be made a reality? In the constitutional renewal white paper and draft bill, the government describes all sorts of powers and tasks it wants to hand to the legislature. Taking decisions on going to war, ratifying treaties, holding pre-appointment hearings for major public offices, making sure Attorney Generals are accountable for the performance of their contradictory role, regulating demonstrations in Parliament Square... I could go on. On the surface of it, Parliament is going to be a busy place by the time Gordon is finished with it. But does it have the resources it needs to do its existing job properly, let alone take on new tasks?
Today the Commons Liaison Committee has published (opens pdf) its annual report on the work of select committees. These are the bodies that will bear the brunt of the increased workload. The Committee recognises that the Governance programme will have "significant implications for Parliament and its committees." But it concludes that, on a basis of a review commissioned last year, "current resources are roughly appropriate for the needs of committees." While we are promised there will be "a fundamental analysis of the current staffing needs of each committee" by the Committee Office, there is no mention of the possible future needs, after the Governance programme, or parts of it, have been implemented. Parliament has got to take the government at its word and start planning now for a shifting balance of power, or any hopes there are of such a change will disappear.
