Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]
In these challenging times, we need to remember that the proposals for amendments to standing orders are about getting the next session of Parliament off to the best possible start without any periods of wondering.
This final report is the committee’s eighth report of 2026. It recommends that the Parliament agree to standing order rule changes in order to provide for conveners of the subject and mandatory committees to be elected by the whole Parliament.
During the course of our committee effectiveness inquiry, those in favour of elected conveners emphasised that having conveners elected by the whole chamber can bring a degree of confidence and visibility to the role. We also heard that, for conveners, that can create a sense of legitimacy and of accountability for the activities of their committee. It can also support public perception that committees operate independently of the Government and political parties, and it can afford committees the opportunity to create a distinct identity.