Committee publication · Report · 14 May 2026 · HC 1827
2nd Report – Virtual participation by Members in select committee meetings
From: Modernisation Committee
Government response deadline: 14 July 2026
Summary
The Modernisation Committee proposes allowing Members of Parliament to participate virtually in select committee meetings on a pilot basis until the end of the current Parliament, but only in two specific circumstances: during business continuity emergencies when parliamentary estate access is significantly restricted, and for individual Members requiring health and wellbeing accommodations following an assessment process. Physical participation remains the default.
Key findings
- Virtual participation by Members in select committees is currently prohibited, though witnesses already participate virtually routinely and other UK parliaments have adopted hybrid procedures.
- The House of Commons Administration identified business resilience benefits and cited examples from the Senedd, Scottish Parliament, Canadian House of Commons, and Australian House of Representatives permitting hybrid or virtual committee participation.
- Virtual participation could enable Members undergoing medical treatment or with long-term health conditions to continue committee involvement; the House of Lords permits this with demonstrable benefit.
- The Liaison Committee has drafted guidance establishing in-person as the default, requiring secure locations and hard-wired connections, imposing strict confidentiality rules, and requiring 72 hours' notice for health-related requests via the Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service.
- The change will be implemented via Standing Order amendment on a pilot basis, with the Procedure Committee agreeing to participate in a timely review to determine permanence in the new Parliament.
Recommendations
- Physical participation in formal select committee meetings should remain the default position.
- Members should be allowed to join select committee meetings virtually on a pilot basis until the end of the current Parliament in two specific circumstances: for business continuity when estate access is significantly restricted or prevented entirely, and when reasonable adjustments for health and wellbeing are needed following an assessment process.
- The Liaison Committee should own and review the guidance within 18 months, making changes as needed based on operational data and committee experience.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Sir Alan Campbell, Dame Meg Hillier, Cat Smith, Baroness Brinton, House of Commons Administration, Liaison Committee, Procedure Committee, Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service
Notable line
“… physical participation in formal select committee meetings should remain the default position, but that, on a pilot basis until the end of the current Parliament …”
Key Quotes
“This would have significant benefits in improving business resilience and in allowing Committees to respond in a more agile way to unforeseen events.”
“… hybrid is extremely helpful because we have two Peers … who require oxygen and various other things and cannot particularly go out at night. It gives them a chance to participate”
“We acknowledge that not everyone who has a serious illness or injury, or a long-term health condition, will want, or be able, to continue to take part in select committee meetings and we emphasise that there should be no pressure on them to do so.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗