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MPs due to back diversity probe Probe into boosting minority MPs
(about 2 hours later)
MPs are expected to acknowledge that they are not representative of UK society - as the make-up of the House of Commons is too white and too male. Proposals for a Parliamentary inquiry into how to boost the numbers of women, ethnic minority and disabled MPs will be put to MPs later.
During a debate, Commons leader Harriet Harman will propose an inquiry into how to ensure more women, ethnic minority and disabled MPs are elected. Gordon Brown announced plans for a "Speaker's Conference" a year ago, to examine ways of making the Commons more representative of the UK as a whole.
This form of investigation, called a Speaker's conference, happens about once every 20 years. Labour MP Tony Wright will try to widen its remit to include more working class people and those from outside politics.
Just 3% of MPs are black or Asian compared with 10% of the UK population.
Among 646 MPs there are just 125 women, of whom two are black and none Asian.Among 646 MPs there are just 125 women, of whom two are black and none Asian.
Of all the MPs, just 3% are from an ethnic minority - compared to 10% in the general population. Weekend voting
Ms Harman is due to ask MPs to support a motion acknowledging that women, ethnic minority and disabled people are under-represented in Parliament. Commons leader Harriet Harman is expected to open the debate later by saying Parliament was admitting for the first time that it did not reflect wider society.
She is also expected to urge Speaker Michael Martin to lead the cross-party inquiry into rectifying the problem. She has put forward the motion to establish the Speaker's Conference - a rare type of inquiry which last took place 30 years ago - which would be chaired by Speaker Michael Martin who would pick up to 17 MPs to take part.
Mr Martin has already been asked to look at the make-up of the Commons by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. There is a large absence of working class representation now ... and of people with hands-on experience of real life Tony WrightLabour MP
BBC social affairs correspondent Sue Littlemore says such Speaker's conference inquiries "can be revolutionary". Announcing plans for the inquiry last year, Mr Brown noted a drop in the number of people voting and said it could address various issues - including weekend voting, the representation of women and ethnic minorities and whether the voting age should be lowered to 16.
Mr Wright, chairman of the public administration committee, has tabled an amendment to Ms Harman's motion, asking for the "under representation of certain groups of citizens" to be included.
He said: "It is most sensible to start off by deciding what under-representation there is before deciding what you are going to tackle. I think there are all kinds to look at.
"There is a large absence of working class representation now ... and of people with hands-on experience of real life, as opposed to the growing political class."
British Obama
Last week Communities Secretary Hazel Blears criticised the "deeply unhealthy" number of government jobs given to career politicians with little experience beyond Westminster.
And following Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election, UK equalities chief Trevor Phillips told the Times a British equivalent would find it very difficult to become PM.
He said there was an "institutional resistance" in the UK to selecting black and Asian candidates as MPs.
We do not have a voting system designed to produce a Parliament that reflects our society Ken RitchieElectoral Reform Society
The first Speaker's conference, chaired by Speaker Lowther from 1916 to 1917, paved the way for the enfranchisement of women in the UK.The first Speaker's conference, chaired by Speaker Lowther from 1916 to 1917, paved the way for the enfranchisement of women in the UK.
There were only five in the 20th Century - previous conferences have operated in a similar way to select committees and have taken evidence from witnesses. The aim is to achieve a cross-party consensus following confidential talks.
If approved, the Speaker's Conference is expected to present its recommendations some time next year.
The Electoral Reform Society said it must produce radical reforms and should "mean more than another round of Westminster wonkery".
Chief executive Ken Ritchie said: "We do not have a voting system designed to produce a Parliament that reflects our society, so we should not be surprised that parts of the electorate are under-represented."
There is no obligation on the government of the day to accept recommendations from Speaker's Conferences but most are usually adopted.