How good are backbench MPs at fulfilling their function? Is this 'the most revolting parliament in history'?

Two excellent articles (May 2012) on rebel MPs and factors that have led to the coaltion suffering rebellions in around 40% of its proposed legislation (not necessarily successful rebellions, mind you). If we have a more assertive House of Commons, does that mean there is less reason for reforming the system?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/28/most-revolting-parliament-history http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/28/top-six-rebel-mps

Who's in the Coalition Cabinet?

This is a great resource for seeing who's who in the coalition cabinet.

Does the Lords need to be made stronger?

One argument in favour of an elected Lords is that it would have greater legitimacy to stand up to an increasingly powerful executive. Some argue that the Lords already does stand up to governments and cite the rejection of Brown's plan to bring in 42 day detention as evidence of the lack of need for reform on the grounds of weakness of the Lords.

However, in truth, the Lords remains weak. Brown could have pushed 42 day detention through using the Parliament Act but decided not to, probably on the grounds that it would bring him too much criticism. So the Lords had influence over a PM who was not interested in attracting criticism.

The Lords has faired less well in blocking many of the Coalition's reforms. The Lords had voted against many of the coalition's welfare reforms (such as the £26,000 benefits cap). However, the Coalition are a lot more willing to take criticism than Brown was over 42 day detention.  The Commons just simply voted to overturn the Lord's amendments, using a technicality known as "financial privelage". They didn't even have to use the Parliament Act. So the Lords can do very little when faced with an assertive government with enough seats in the Commons to push through a law. The Welfare Reform bill became law in March 2012.

Whether or not you think this means the Lords should be reformed to make it stronger depends on one's point of view.

House of Lords reform update May 2012

Bagehot: House repairs | The Economist:

'via Blog this'

Select Committees Source from Jan 2012 Paper

Select Committees

There is a House of Commons select committee for each government department, examining
three aspects: spending, policies and administration. These departmental select committees
have a minimum of 11 members, who decide upon a line of inquiry and then gather written
and oral evidence. Findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the
Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee’s
recommendations.

Following the adoption by the House of Commons of recommendations from the Reform of
the House of Commons Committee:

• Departmental select committee chairs are elected by their fellow MPs

• A backbench business committee has been established with the ability to schedule business in the Commons chamber and in Westminster Hall on days, or parts of days, set aside for non-government business.

Legislative committees
Both Houses of Parliament refer legislation to committees for detailed discussion and
approval. These committees are part of the process of making laws. They scrutinise proposed
laws and may consider amendments to improve the legislation. Amendments approved in
legislative committees must be approved by the whole House.

Source: adapted from www.parliament.gov.uk, October, 2010.