Recommendation 17

Despite recent progress in several areas, the House of Commons currently lacks a comprehensive and systematic approach to driving forward reforms to promote gender and diversity sensitivity. This Report has demonstrated the need for further reforms in each of the key areas we have examined: equal representation; support for parent and carer MPs; a gender and diversity sensitive workplace and working practices; and an inclusive culture in which inappropriate and harmful behaviour is no longer tolerated. There is clearly no room for complacency. Now is the time to review progress, build on it through a reinvigorated action plan and institute a systematic monitoring mechanism. We recommend, as a first step, the House of Commons Commission conduct a swift review of the implementation of recommendations in The Good Parliament report and the UK Gender Sensitive Parliament Audit 2018, in line with best practice recommended by the Inter- Parliamentary Union and Commonwealth Parliaments Association. We recommend this review be published within six months, together with the results of the Member Services Team’s survey of MPs that we have recommended in this Report. We further recommend the Commission report annually to us on progress in any outstanding areas. Where necessary, we will hold annual oral evidence sessions to scrutinise progress and make further recommendations. (Paragraph 123) Equality in the heart of democracy: A gender sensitive House of Commons 49