A report evaluated e-consultations run on behalf of the United Kingdom parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Scottish Executive.
Source: Stephen Coleman with Nicola Hall and Milica Howell, Hearing Voices: The Experience of Online Public Consultations and Discussions in UK Governance, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Dec
The joint committee of MPs and peers examining House of Lords reform published its first report. Members of both Houses will be offered a vote on seven options, ranging from a wholly appointed to a wholly elected chamber. Campaigners said the plans do not go far enough to guarantee a truly democratic second chamber fit for a modern democracy.
Source: House of Lords Reform, First Report (Session 2002-03), HL 17 and HC 171, Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 11.12.02, Charter88 (020 8880 6088)
Links: Report | Charter88 press release | Independent article
Date: 2002-Dec
Responding to a report by a committee of MPs, the government promised to give prompt, accurate and honest information in response to parliamentary questions, or say which secrecy rule prevents it giving an answer. (The response followed a case where a minister had been found to have given a misleading reply.)
Source: Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions: The Government Response to the Committee's Ninth Report of Session 2001-02, First Report (Session 2002-03), HC 136, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian article
Date: 2002-Dec
A report examined the organisation of business in parliament and questioned whether the culture of secrecy and discretion best serves the interests of parliamentary scrutiny and democracy.
Source: Michael Rush and Clare Ettinghausen, Opening Up the Usual Channels, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Summary | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A committee of MPs made recommendations for modernising House of Commons procedures, including a greater proportion of Bills being published in draft; proposals for pre-legislative scrutiny on the basis of a detailed statement of policy where a draft Bill is not possible; allowing the carry-over of Bills by resolution for an experimental period; and changes to working hours.
Source: Modernisation of the House of Commons: A Reform Programme, Second Report (Session 2001-02), HC 1168-I and HC 1168-II, House of Commons Modernisation Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Cabinet Office press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 10.2
Date: 2002-Sep
A committee of MPs strongly criticised delays by Ministers in answering parliamentary questions, and their refusal to give answers at all in many cases.
Source: Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions, Ninth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 1086, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul
An analysis of the first compulsory register of peers' interests found that at least one in three peers are directors of companies.
Source: Labour Research July 2002, Labour Research Department (020 7928 3649)
Date: 2002-Jul
A new report examined what technology is available in the Westminster and devolved legislatures of the United Kingdom, and whether elected representatives use it to improve communications with their electorates.
Source: Technology: Enhancing Representative Democracy in the UK?, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 1.1
Date: 2002-Jul
MPs agreed to create a joint committee with the House of Lords to consider reform plans for the upper chamber.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Debate 19.6.02, columns 338-380, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 10.3)
Date: 2002-Jun