June 2010
Our aim
Our aim is that by 2015:
- The House of Commons will be valued as the central institution
in our democracy: effective in holding the Government to account,
scrutinising legislation, and representing the diverse views of the
electorate. It will be seen both in the UK and abroad as a model of
good practice and innovation, and will cost less money.
- Members of Parliament will have the information, advice, support
and technology they need to be effective in their work and to
engage closely with their constituents.
- The House Service will have earned the respect of Members of
Parliament and of the public for our independence, integrity and
professionalism, and for our commitment to making Parliament
work ever more effectively. We will be seen as modern, efficient
and responsive. We will feel proud to work here and confident that
our contribution is valued.
- We will be engaged on an agreed plan of work to ensure both that
the Palace of Westminster is preserved for future generations and
that Parliament has the accommodation it needs to operate in a
modern democracy.
Our strategy
To achieve this aim:
1. We will work at every level to earn respect for the House of
Commons by:
- having an open and transparent way of doing business
- encouraging public participation in parliamentary business,
including the work of select committees and the legislative
process, developing our outreach and education services and
making the House more welcoming to the public
- having clear and accepted standards of behaviour for Members
and for staff, and taking action against breaches of these
standards
- engaging proactively with the media to encourage full and
accurate reporting of House matters
2. We will make the House of Commons more effective by:
- supporting the House in implementing reforms to the way in
which the Government is held to account and in strengthening
the scrutiny of legislation
- developing new ways to represent the diverse views of the
electorate influencing decisions on constitutional reform, and being ready to respond to the outcomes
3. We will make the House Administration more efficient by:
- cutting our costs – our first commitment is to reduce our costs
by 9% by 2012/13, which will mean reviewing what we do and how we do it
- supporting and learning from the experience of other
Parliaments
- becoming a greener, more sustainable Parliament, on track to
meet our agreed long-term targets for reductions in carbon
emissions, water consumption and waste generation, and
increases in recycling
- doing the work required to enable decisions to be taken on the
long-term future of the Palace of Westminster
- making Parliament a leader in the use of IT, exploiting the
potential of online services and reducing the volume of printing
- speeding up administrative decision-making, simplifying our
processes and developing effective relationships between staff,
unions and management
4. We will ensure that Members, staff and the public are
well-informed by:
- giving Members the support and access to the information they
require to be effective in their role
- making sure that staff have the skills and capability to play their
part in helping the House innovate and develop for the future,
and to deliver excellent service through high quality people
development and unified leadership
- giving the public the information needed to understand
and appreciate the work of the House and its Members, by
continuing to develop our information, education and outreach
services and opening the new Education Centre at Westminster
New Parliament: Strategy for the House of Commons Service 2010-15 (
PDF 212 KB)