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Select Committee Chairs: Period of Leave
14 September 2026
Lead MP
Alan Campbell
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Parliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Alan Campbell raised concerns about select committee chairs: period of leave in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Moved to allow select committee chairs to take a period of leave, with provisions for a minimum of one month and a maximum of seven months, subject to the approval of the Chair of the Liaison Committee. The acting chair must be appointed with at least five sitting days’ notice, and they can exercise all the powers of the chair, including any powers already delegated to the chair by the committee. The acting chair shall be a member of the Liaison Committee during the period of the chair’s leave and the chair will resume that function either at the end of the period of leave or after giving at least five sitting days’ notice of their intention to return from a specified date. The leave or return of a chair and the appointment, or the extension, of an acting chair, and their temporary membership of the Liaison Committee, shall be reported to the House.
Caroline Nokes
Con
Romsey and Southampton North
Noted a small error on the printed Order Paper in the motion on Standing Orders and provided details on the motions to be debated, including the Select Committees (Participation) motion, the Privileges report, and the Standing Orders Etc. (Machinery of Government Changes) motion.
Asked for clarification on why the decision was given to the Chair of the Liaison Committee after the period of seven months had elapsed, rather than the Speaker, as the Speaker would have already deemed that the individual was entitled to leave from the House generally.
Alberto Costa
Con
South Leicestershire
Supports the motions regarding parliamentary privileges and the obstruction of the Charity Commission's actions. Emphasises the importance of parliamentary privilege and the need for public bodies to learn from the case to avoid similar issues in the future.
Meg Hillier
Lab
Hackney South and Shoreditch
Suggests changes to the rules allowing virtual participation and the replacement of Select Committee Chairs on sick or maternity leave. Highlights the benefits of being physically present but argues for reasonable adjustments for health issues or disability. Supports modernisation of the House's Standing Orders to allow virtual participation during emergencies.
Cat Smith
Lab
Lancaster and Fleetwood
Expressed gratitude towards the Leader of the House for bringing forward the motions and supported the proposed reforms. She emphasised the importance of a thorough and timely review to assess the permanence and further reforms of the measures proposed.
Supported the Leader of the House's speech, acknowledging the importance of Select Committees while also recognising the need for balance and strict rules on virtual participation. He highlighted the need for accessibility and the importance of in-person scrutiny.
Alan Campbell
Lab
Tynemouth
Responded to the contributions made by other hon. Members, expressing gratitude and agreement with their comments. He emphasised the importance of protecting Members' rights and enhancing them through the proposed measures, which aim to modernise and maintain integrity.
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