Years after the matter was first raised, parliamentarians may shortly be allowed limited use of laptop computers during sittings of the House and meetings of parliamentary committees.

The Standing Orders Committee of the House met Tuesday and agreed to recommend that the Standing Orders be amended to incorporate several new related provisions.

The provision is for "the use of laptop computers or other devices serving similar functions" during proceedings of the House or in committee.

The provision specifies, however, that this should be "for the purpose of taking notes or for consulting reference material only".

In that connection, the committee agreed that the laptop computer or other similar devices should not be permitted "for external communication with other individuals" during proceedings of the House or in committee.

Existing limitations

Explaining the rationale for the restriction, House Speaker Michael Peart told The Gleaner that this was simply in keeping with the limitations already imposed on members by existing provisions in the Standing Orders.

"The essence of Parliament is for the member to speak on his feet unaided, and so for the member to be able to communicate with somebody outside of Parliament after the House has convened, is considered ultra vires," he stated.

The implication of that prohibition is that MPs will not be allowed to send or receive email, even if a member thinks it might be useful to his presentation to ask for external support.

In a separate provision, members will only be allowed to use laptops as audio-visual aids to support parliamentary presentations at the discretion of the Speaker.

It was more than five years ago that the use of computers by parliamentarians during sittings was first raised. Phillip Paulwell, the minister responsible for technology, procured a laptop for each MP at a time when there was no provision in the Standing Orders to facilitate their use in the Chamber.

Need to update house rules

Violet Neilson, then Speaker of the House, cited the need for the rules of the House to be updated to reflect the changing demands and expectations, so that the members would not be in breach of the Standing Orders.

On June 22, 2005, a resolution to that effect was referred to the House Committee. That committee met in November 2005 and submitted its recommendations on February 22.

The Standing Orders Committee on Tuesday largely confirmed the recommendations of the House Committee.

In a related matter, Mr. Peart indicated that the Standing Orders Committee would next develop formal rules governing the use of mobile phones in Parliament.