This publication is an important event in the history of the House.

A Speaker's Conference happens but rarely. This Conference is only the sixth to have taken place in the modern history of Parliament, and is the first since 1978. A Speaker's Conference is designed to bring together Members from all parts of the House of Commons and all parts of the United Kingdom and is generally reserved to address constitutional issues of particular significance or sensitivity which require a cross-party solution.

The background against which this Conference has conducted its work is sombre. Many citizens feel themselves to be distant from Parliament and the wider democratic process. There are many reasons for this, including the issue of Members' expenses which has seriously diminished the House's reputation. I am glad that the House is now beginning to address that very serious problem.

Other things need to be done if the standing of Parliament in public life is to be restored. One of those is to make sure that the House reflects much more closely the diverse society in which we live. Parliament can do its work effectively only if its Members are in tune with the experiences of the people they represent. At present, Members of Parliament are for the most part white, male, middle-aged and middle class.

That is why the House formally and unanimously agreed in November 2008 to establish this Speaker's Conference. The House asked the Conference to look into the reasons why women, members of the black and minority ethnic communities and disabled people are under-represented in the House of Commons, and to recommend ways in which the situation can be improved. The Conference also agreed to consider issues relating to the representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

Following the agreement of the House, the former Speaker, the Rt Hon Michael J Martin, initiated the Conference. I have been very glad to continue its work. The Conference, and especially the Vice-Chair, Anne Begg, have worked imaginatively to reach beyond those already engaged with politics to make contact with people whose voices might not otherwise be heard. This has enabled them to gather a wide range of views to inform the recommendations in this report.

This is a report which goes to the heart of the House's future. I commend it to you.