Question to the Leader of the House:

To ask the Leader of the House, if his office will undertake an equalities assessment on the effect of ending hybrid virtual proceedings in the House.

The House should return to physical proceedings as soon as it is safe to do so, as the Government firmly believes constituents are best served by parliamentarians conducting extensive in-person scrutiny. The Government has always been clear that our approach should be in line with the wider road map. The measures, agreed by the House, will take us through to 22 July when the House rises for the Summer recess.

Hybrid measures were agreed by consensus on the basis that they were temporary. The pandemic should not be used as an opportunity to make long term changes to our proceedings. Changes to procedure are ultimately a matter for the House and, once we return to normal, the House may wish to take time to reflect on the last year and review the impact on our proceedings. Should any changes be considered desirable, the House may wish to undertake an equalities assessment as part of its consideration.