Eye understands that it is proving somewhat of a challenge to recruit the full complement of MPs to some Select Committees.
In yet another unintended consequence of the Wright Reforms MPs are proving backwards in coming forwards to take on roles.
Westminster insiders suggest that restrictions on MPs travel allowances and reductions in staffing budgets mean that some older hands are unwilling to shoulder the additional workload. Especially where Select Committee's meet on Mondays or Fridays
This means that many of those elected to serve on the new Select Committees are also new to Parliament.
Take for instance the Transport Select Committee.
Conservative Home provides a list of those who have been elected to serve as Tory members of the TSC.
Conservative members: Angie Bray (Ealing Central & Acton)*, Kwasi Kwarteng (Spelthorne)*, Paul Maynard (Blackpool North and Cleveleys)*, Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South)* and Julian Sturdy (York Outer)* Members marked with an asterisk are new to Parliament*:
Not one old hand amongst them..
Reassuringly, according to Labour Uncut, the opposition party's nominees include some older and therefore perhaps wiser heads, including former Transport Minister Tom Harris:
Labour members – Lilian Greenwood (Nottingham South)*, Tom Harris (Glasgow South), Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) and Angela Smith (Penistone & Stocksbridge) Members marked with an asterisk are new to Parliament*:
Meanwhile from the LibDem's not a murmur.
Apparently the coalition party hopes to confirm which of their MP's have been elected to which Select Committees by Wednesday of this week.
Expect formal confirmation of Transport Select Committee membership week commencing the 4th July.
With the Labour Shadow team somewhat thin on the ground Eye hopes TSC Chair Louise Ellman (Liverpool Riverside) has already booked Petrol-head for a grilling.
