IT has been a quiet time in Parliament as the session comes to an end for the summer recess.

However, one important set of elections has taken place – that for chairs of the various select committees. These elections involve all MPs across the political spectrum.

I was honoured to have been elected the first chair of the petitions select committee after the 2015 General Election.

The committee has been very successful in allowing the public to raise issues and get them debated.

Often, because the issues have a real relevance and direct impact on the petitioners, the parliamentary debates have been among the most widely watched.

We have also produced real results and changes – not least on funding for brain tumour research.

The committee, during its first two years, has pioneered innovative new ways of working with voters which allow them to get their voices heard, including web forums, Twitter chats and informal round tables with MPs.

The petitions system has allowed millions of people to engage directly with Parliament and the Government.

Many of our debates have attracted so many people into parliament that we have had to use an overflow room to accommodate them.

Therefore I was both proud and delighted to have received the support and confidence of my parliamentary colleagues when, last week, I was re-elected, unopposed, chair of the petition select committee for this Parliament. Much to the frustration of many people the petitions site had to close when parliament was dissolved for the General Election.

While I have been re-elected chair, the rest of the committee still has to be elected and the petitions site cannot reopen until this has happened and the committee has met.

Unfortunately, the Government is not acting quickly in re-forming the select committees and there is a real danger that we will not be reconstituted until after parliament resumes in the autumn, which means the petition site will not reopen until then. I am pressing the Government to act swiftly so that we can meet before the summer recess and get the process active again.

Whenever we start up again I hope to build on our initial successes and ensure that a wide range of voices are heard in Parliament over the coming years.