WELL OFCOURSE THEY DID...SAYS ALL!

MPs support regional committees

MPs have backed government plans to set up new select committees for
English regions despite widespread concerns over their cost and
political make-up.

A rebel amendment calling for those MPs chairing the committees not to
be paid over and above their basic Westminster salary was passed by two
votes.

Ministers believe the eight committees will improve regional
accountability.

But one Labour MP argued the new bodies would increase ministerial
patronage and threaten Parliament's independence.

'Accountability gap'

The government carried the vote to establish the committees, which are
estimated will cost about £2m, by a majority of 30.

The committees for the East Midlands, east, north east, north west,
south east, south west, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber are
likely to begin operating at the start of next year.

Commons leader Harriet Harman said the committees would "plug the
accountability gap" and improve the scrutiny of regional health and
economic development bodies with huge annual budgets.
It really is very unhealthy this growth of the payroll vote
Andrew Mackinlay, Labour MP

But Andrew Mackinlay, Labour MP for Thurrock, said he was concerned
about the growth of government patronage and the implications for
Parliament's independence of the new committees.

Current select committee chairmen are paid £14,000 a year on top of
their annual parliamentary salary.

It was "bonkers" that chairmen of the new committees should be paid the
same as existing committee chairmen since the new committees would not
be meeting nearly as regularly, Mr Mackinlay said.

"It really is very unhealthy this growth of the payroll vote and the
patronage which goes with it," he said.

'Duplication'

Opposition MPs raised concerns that the committees would be "packed"
with government appointees, some from outside the regions they would be
scrutinising.

Shadow commons leader Theresa May said she feared that they would
duplicate the work of existing select committees.

"They are being introduced by government for its own ends, not in the
interests of this House," she said.

But a Lib Dem amendment calling for only MPs from the regions concerned
to sit on the relevant committees was defeated.

Neil Turner, Labour MP for Wigan, said he backed the committees as they
would improve the decision-making of regional bodies.

"It is easy to look at the cost and not at what the benefit could be."

Each select committee will have nine members based on their party's
overall proportion of MPs. Plans for a similar committee for London are
due to be put forward next year.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ go/pr/fr/ -/1/hi/uk_ politics/ 7725461.stm

Published: 2008/11/12 20:14:15 GMT
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