The Report on Select Committees by the Modernisation Committee (HC 224 session 2001-02) took forward the debate initiated by the Liaison Committee at the end of the last Parliament. This document looks at the proposals of that report and supports most of its proposals. In particular it supports the idea of an independent and transparent mechanism for appointing chairmen of committees and that committees need more resources. The other topics covered include: limitations on the power to compel witnesses to give evidence; a more coherent committee structure; an alternative career structure; wider membership and dissemination of committee proceedings.