IT has been another very exciting week, starting with my shock discovery that there were short odds on my becoming the next Speaker, followed by further revelations about MPs’ expenses and then the gradual realisation that the expenses crisis may lead to real efforts to improve the ability of the House of Commons to hold the Government of the day more effectively to account.

Even to be suggested as the next Speaker is an amazing compliment for any backbench MP but it is not a post that I would seek.

I believe my duties on the back benches, the Health Select Committee and for local people are too important and would all be lost by becoming the Speaker.

I shall be backing Frank Field, Labour MP for Birkenhead, as he has shown himself to be a thinking rebel and a thorn in the side of the Government over several issues. He also has ideas for reforming the House to make it more effective. He would be a strong and independent Speaker.

The best result of everyone’s anger about the alleged abuses of MPs’ allowances is the realisation that the way the House of Commons works has to be changed.

Although party whips are essential I think their powers must be reduced. For instance membership of Select Committees, at present decided by whips and rubber stamped by the House, should be decided by the House itself.

There should be many more ‘free’ votes (votes without a whip) and if the Government lost such a vote it would not be a defeat for them but a demonstration of reacting to the wishes of Parliament representing the people.

If there were more ‘free’ votes then the point of debate, to make people change their minds, would be restored. There would be more reason for debate and if the length of all speeches, including those by frontbenchers, was limited, more MPs would have the opportunity to contribute.

Scrutiny of Bills in committee and on the floor of the House should be increased so that no longer could large parts of Bills be passed without any debate.

What is even more galling is that at present amendments to a Bill from the Government that are not debated because of lack of time are automatically passed while opposition amendments not debated automatically fall. How unfair is that?

It will certainly be exciting to see if changes really do happen and if the present Government grasps the opportunity of re-connecting with people as a vital election ploy or if the opposition parties will make all the running.

I enjoyed a visit to the House of Commons last week by students from Baxter College and Stourport High School & Sixth Form Centre.

One of the Commons doorkeepers kindly came in his own time to take them on an informal tour as the official tours were fully booked.

Then a member of the Education Department staff gave them a stimulating quiz. I was impressed with their interest, participation and knowledge, especially as I got the answer to one of the quiz questions wrong!

DR RICHARD TAYLOR MP FOR WYRE FOREST