Pledge still good-ish

Nov 21 2007 by Rob Merrick, Liverpool Daily Post

GORDON BROWN is not poised to rip up his pledge to give Merseyside a stronger voice at the House of Commons – or so I’m told.

Ten days ago, I reported the growing suspicions of many Northern MPs that a promise to set up a “select committee” for every region was heading for a U-turn.

The idea – a key plank of the Prime Minister’s constitutional reform agenda unveiled in July – was said to solve the problem created by the demise of elected regional assemblies.

Without assemblies, who will scrutinise the billions of pounds spent by unelected quangos, such as the regional development agency (RDA) and the strategic health authority (SHA)?

The answer, said Mr Brown, was MPs – who would be given the power to haul the chairmen and chief executives down to London to explain themselves, if necessary.

Then something happened – or rather, nothing did. No regional committees were set up and the entire idea is being re-examined by Harriet Harman, the Commons leader.

The whisper was that the regions must settle for a “grand committee” – without the power to launch investigations and call witnesses. A “talking shop”, said Knowsley’s George Howarth.

Not so, says my well-placed source, who insists the row is a storm in a teacup and that the likes of Mr Howarth have nothing to worry about.

The problem, I’m told, is neither of the two explanations put forward by the malcontents – cost, or the obstruction of Civil Service “Sir Humphreys”.

No, it’s all about standing orders, apparently – the Commons rules which state that all select committees must have an in-built government majority.

That would be no problem in the North West, of course, but would be impossible in the South-East, or South-West, where Labour MPs are scarce.

So what is the solution? Well, it’s a “grand committee” in name, but – before MPs start spluttering – one that looks like a “select committee”.

Confused? You should be, but my source says MPs will get what they want – the muscle to investigate the quangos, grill their bosses and make recommendations to the Government.

Perhaps ministers should work a little harder at reassuring Northern MPs, who remain suspicious?

WHO stepped forward to help Jacqui Smith, when the Home Secretary found herself in a pickle over 5,000 illegal immigrants cleared to work in security?

None other than Andrew Miller, the Ellesmere Port and Neston MP, whose committee examined the setting up of the Security Industry Authority, which failed to vet the migrants.

The noble Mr Miller told Ms Smith: “Perhaps I should apologise for failing to spot a weakness in it . . . ”