Thread by @ifgevents

Don't miss this morning's event on parliament and the pandemic.

Our panel, chaired by @DrHannahWhite, will include @tracey_crouch @hamlynm1 and @LordNortonLouth.

We'll be livestreaming at 10:15am - find out more instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/parliam…

https://twitter.com/instituteforgov/status/1384420701856219136

@DrHannahWhite kicks us off and introduces our guests. There have been many changes to the way parliament works during the pandemic. Some have been positive, others have caused controversy.

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We start with a quick question to Tracey Crouch about the Football Review announced yesterday. Tracey Crouch: It is undoubtedly the case that the news on the ESL has triggered this review.

TC: The government will look at everything, and there is nothing off the table for the review.

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Matthew Hamlyn: In March 2020, it became clear that the model of a crowded chamber in parliament and committees was not going to be viable. The trailblazers were the select committees.

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MH: The use of zoom was gradually built up over time, for both virtual and hybrid meetings.

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MH: Voting was about as covid insecure as one can imagine. Both houses introduced electronic voting, the Lords stock with that, and the Commons began to use security passes to swipe and vote. The commons also expanded proxy voting.

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MH: Currently around a third of participation is virtual.

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Phillip Norton: parliament has done rather well compared to other nations in being able to continue with proceedings. The staff who made this possible are due a lot of credit.

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PN: The Lords' chamber is very small, only 30 members can attend in a socially distanced manner.

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PN: The electronic voting in the house of Lords is very convenient. Some say that it may be too convenient, simply opening the laptop and pressing a button.

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PN: On the limitations of the system in place. There is no spontaneity, the system is very time consuming, and there has been a need to stop interventions. This has led to a lack of sense as to what the feeling of the chamber is.

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PN: There are no informal spaces in the new digital system. Informal spaces are a vital part of parliamentary life, and for the integration of new members. This inherently favours the executive, as members can't get together easily to discuss what is happening.

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PN: The informal dimension is also key in knowing what is happening in the other house. Portcullis house has been essential in the past. This is what is missing in the new covid-secure operation of parliament.

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Tracey Crouch: There are two main challenges. The first, personally, is that she usually will spend her week in Westminster and be totally focused on parliament. Working from home, especially with a small child, complicates this.

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TC: We don't all have mansions, and I am only able to do this event thanks to the starwars DVD on in the other room occupying my son.

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TC: The procedural approach has been an issue too. After her personal experience with breast cancer she wanted to participate in a parliamentary discussion, but technical issues prevented it.

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TC: Proxy Voting covers parental leave, but not bereavement leave. If we want a wider range of people coming into parliament, we need to make it more accessible.

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TC: A lot of the conversations and work in parliament goes way beyond the chamber. Many issues could have been resolved by a conversation or discussion. There is no guarantee that a telephone call will be answered.

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MH: There is now more data available about who is speaking in debates. This has led to a change in practice where the names of members who will take part in debates are published ahead of time in the commons.

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MH: A big opportunity is with select committees. It is now easier to call a wider range of witnesses when they can do it on zoom, rather than have to come to Westminster for the day.

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PN: On participation, there have been some positives. At question time there has been a broader range of peers participating. Before the questions were dominated by a much smaller number of peers.

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PN: One aspect of this has been an increase in participation by women in the House of Lords, facilitated by the new online way of doing things.
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TC: Most work MPs do for constituents is casework. More work has been done during the pandemic on this than at any point in her 11 years in parliament.

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TC: It has been harder to bring constituent issues before parliament in debate or adjournment debates. However it has still been possible, and it shouldn't be underestimated what MPs can do from their laptops.

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TC: The truth is that, in the face of the pandemic, parliament had to put faith in the government to act quickly. As time has gone on, parliament has provided more scrutiny. Ideally we would have liked more discussion, but parliament had to act the way it did

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TC: Some issues, like vaccine passports, will require parliamentary debate. This is not the same as the legislation that had to be done rapidly last year.

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PN: There is always a need for a balance between speed and scrutiny. With time there is more capacity for scrutiny, and less need for speed of legislation.
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PN: Sometimes you will learn important information simply by bumping into people. You can contact people online, but it is much more clunky.

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TC: The words that strike fear into you civil servants as a minister are 'I'm just popping over to the commons for lunch'

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TC: From a backbencher perspective, it is helpful to bump into a minister and be able to ask them a question. That is not possible at the moment.

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TC: MPs are working from home to stop the spread of the virus. Working from home is not more convenient, it is not easier, and MPs are not doing it because they are lazy.
When June comes 'I will be on that first train'

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MH: From a staff perspective, people are facing the same challenges as people across the country.

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MH: Some staff are enjoying working from home. For others it has been a great challenge.

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TC: The pandemic has let MPs see that working from home can work well. Going forward there will be more openness to flexible working arrangements, depending on staff needs.

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TC: There is an appetite from most members of parliament for more in-person discussion and debate in Westminster.

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PN: There will be desire for MPs and peers to have input in how things will proceed after the pandemic. There will be a balance between continuity and reversion.

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MH: Things will likely work differently between the two houses. All the standing orders in the House of Commons have an expiry date, and could just lapse without any proactive decision by the house.

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TC: We have made it work as best we could in the circumstances. There will be things to learn from this experience.

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TC: Parliament is not just about parliamentary proceedings. It is for the people, and the public enjoy visiting parliament and speaking with people. MPs are looking forward to getting back to work.

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That's all for today. If you missed the event don't worry a recording will be uploaded to our website in 24 hours.

instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/parliam…