Hunt wary of reducing MPs

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

Speaker Jonathan Hunt believes that reducing the number of MPs would diminish the effectiveness of select committees, which have become the "engine-room" of Parliament.

And he says MPs have to be better educated these days.

"The old business where you have the farmer or the trade unionist who was just there to put his hand up and say 'Aye' - those days are over," he said.

Mr Hunt's comments may raise a few eyebrows because he chairs the select committee reviewing MMP. It is due to report in the next two months.

It is also looking at whether Parliament should reduce the number of MPs from 120 to 99, as 81 per cent of voters requested in a referendum at the last election.

Mr Hunt said the role of select committees was vital in achieving the separation between the Executive (the ministers) and the Legislature (Parliament), which scrutinises the Executive.

He remembered when ministers used to sit on the committees and push their own legislation through. Only since 1985 had all legislation been referred to a select committee so it could hear submissions.

"The fact that you send every bill to a select committee means a department can't continue fooling a minister that there are no problems in a bill."

There was now a requirement for the Government to "people" select committees adequately.

"Whereas in the past that mightn't have been thought to be important, now it is of vital importance because the select committees are the engine-room of Parliament."

After hearing submissions, the select committee chairman/chairwoman now advised the minister on what changes needed to be made.

Mr Hunt said because there was now more scrutiny of legislation, backbench MPs had become more important.

"That's why there is an increasing need for members of Parliament to be well educated, to know how to do research, to have some experience in the art of compromise and negotiation.

"No longer is an MP just lobby-fodder.

"You can't afford to have too many passengers in a team or else the Opposition select committee personnel are going to start having substantial victories," he said.

Mr Hunt said some MPs who missed out on cabinet had another career option with the development of select committee work.

The Higher Salaries Commission recognised the importance of people chairing select committees and their deputies with extra pay.

The basic pay for an MP is $85,000 a year but a chairman/chairwoman receives another $6500 and a deputy an extra $1000.