I’ve seen Parliament at its best and at its worst in recent weeks.

We have just completed the final stages of the Marine Bill, a groundbreaking piece of environmental legislation which creates a framework of conservation zones around our coasts to assist the survival of marine species and guard against commercial exploitation. It also creates a national network of coastal paths for the public to enjoy. This long awaited measure started life as a campaign by conservationists and environmental groups which came together under the banner of the ‘Wildlife Link’. It was then picked up as a Private Members Bill in the Commons and later became a Labour manifesto commitment in the 2005 General Election.

I have been involved at every stage of the process including on a rare but very useful joint Committee of the Commons and Lords charged with scrutinising the Draft Bill prior to it commencing its formal Parliamentary process. At every stage politicians worked together in a collaborative manner, taking evidence from outside experts and holding constructive but rigorous discussions with due regard for other peoples points of view. The result was that a fine idea became a good bill which, though effective Parliamentary scrutiny and debate, has become a truly excellent piece of legislation.

Likewise my fellow members of the new Parliamentary Reform Committee have been putting their collective experiences and energies into producing recommendations which will hopefully assist Parliament regain greater control over its own proceedings. These have become far too dominated by the party managers. We will shortly be publishing cross-party recommendations to strengthen Select Committees and to allow for better public engagement in parliamentary business. I have long argued for a means by which public pressure can trigger a debate, and even a vote on important issues on the floor of the House of Commons.

Another long-standing crusade of mine has been to get the Commons to allow young people from the UK Youth Parliament to hold their annual debate in the Chamber. I first proposed this back in 2004 and last Friday saw the inspiring sight of 400 youngsters debating with eloquence, maturity and enthusiasm the issues which mattered to them and their generation. This really was both a different and great parliamentary occasion.

On the other hand it has been a pretty pathetic spectacle to hear MPs whining about no longer being able to profit personally from their second homes allowances. And as for that stupid Tory MP comparing the clamp-down on MPs allowances with Hitler’s holocaust - well words fail me!

Any new system must be transparent, fair, workable and deliver better value for the taxpayer. It must however, ensure that MPs have the resources they need to do their jobs properly. Parliament must never again become a place only open to the privately wealthy or the externally sponsored.