John Bercow MP: What does parliamentary scrutiny mean in 2011?

On Tuesday 18 January, the Rt Hon. John Bercow MP, Speaker of the House of Commons gave a speech at the Institute for Government to address the question "What does scrutiny mean in 2011?"

It is often said that better scrutiny makes for better government. The Parliament of 2010 is showing a new confidence and engagement with the ancient and challenging task of calling the executive to account. What has been achieved, and what aspirations remain?

This event was chaired by Andrew Adonis, Director of the Institute for Government.

Reaction

• The Guardian editorial: The Speaker: Bercow's boundaries
• The Guardian: MPs wasting time and money with too many written questions, says Bercow
• The Guardian: House of Lords in stalemate over voting reform
• Paul Waugh on Politics Home: The Speaker speaks - on MP numbers, IPSA and bloggers
• Michael White on the Guardian Politics blog: The two sides of John Bercow
• Blog by James Kirkup of the Telegraph: John Bercow on cutting the number of MPs. Has the Speaker crossed the line?
• Mark D'Arcy BBC blog: Coup in the offing?

More information

• Peter Riddell on the IfG Blog: Speaker's question time
• View photographs from this event (Flickr)