Committee publication · Special Report · 26 March 2026 · HC 1814

5th Special Report - Call lists: Government Response

From: Procedure Committee

Inquiry: Call lists

Summary

The Procedure Committee's Fifth Special Report publishes the Government's response to its February 2026 report on call lists. The Government agrees with the Committee that introducing call lists is not the right approach, but commits to working with the Modernisation Committee to improve certainty around parliamentary scheduling and the effective use of House time.

Key findings

  • Government agrees with the Committee's conclusion that call lists should not be introduced
  • Government acknowledges Members need greater certainty about parliamentary day timings
  • Government will address scheduling issues through the Modernisation Committee's work programme
  • Any procedural changes will be considered holistically alongside broader parliamentary modernisation

Government position

Accepts the Committee's recommendation against introducing call lists. The Government agrees that call lists are not the right approach but commits to addressing the underlying issue—Member certainty about parliamentary timing—through the Modernisation Committee's broader work on effective use of House time, in consultation with relevant committees.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

parliamentary-procedurehouse-of-commonsscheduling

Key actors

Procedure Committee, Cat Smith, Sir Alan Campbell, Modernisation Committee, House of Commons

Notable line

The Government agrees with the Committee's report and does not believe that the introduction of call lists is the right approach.

Key Quotes

The Government agrees with the Committee's report and does not believe that the introduction of call lists is the right approach.
Sir Alan Campbell · Government's position on the call lists proposal
I am keen to provide Members with greater certainty about the timings of their parliamentary day and it is important that changes to the procedures of the House are considered in the round.
Sir Alan Campbell · Government's commitment to addressing underlying concerns while taking a holistic approach
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗