MPs to debate Commons diversity

The conference's findings are not binding but are usually adopted

MPs are to begin investigating how to get more women, disabled people and people from ethnic minorities into the House of Commons.

Speaker Michael Martin has pledged to fight the "disparity" between society and Parliament.

He has convened a committee of 16 MPs, including former home secretary David Blunkett, to examine the issue.

Speakers' conferences are a rarely used device to encourage electoral reform, with the last having been held in 1978.

Consensus

On Tuesday, the committee will hear evidence from the campaigning group Operation Black Vote, the disability network Radar and the Women's Institute.

Speakers' conferences, used only five times since they started in 1916, aim to achieve a cross-party consensus following confidential talks.

There is no obligation on the government to accept recommendations, but most are usually adopted.

Currently about one in five MPs is a woman, compared with approximately half the population.

Mr Martin was asked to look at the make-up of the Commons by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Papers of the conferences are not made available until 30 years after they occur.

Among the MPs taking part in the conference are Labour's Diane Abbott, Conservative John Bercow and Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson.