The pomp and pageantry of the State Opening of Parliament could be scrapped as part of a range of radical reforms being discussed to modernise the Commons.

Ann Taylor, Leader of the House, said some of Parliament's 450-year-old traditions were "peculiar" and out of step with Labour's 'New' Britain.

Under scrutiny are traditions such as the Great Officer of State walking backwards in front of the Queen, yeomen searching the cellars for gunpowder and the number of State Openings, which the Government wants to reduce from once a year to once every five years.

Ann Taylor - wants to modernise the Commons

"Our priority is thinking how to make the Commons work better. Parliament is a place that hasn't changed a great deal," Mrs Taylor, told The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

In an interview, she says Lord Richard, the Leader of the Lords, and Lord Carter, the Government Chief Whip in the Lords, are holding "discussions" about modernising some proceedings.

"They are looking at whether it is as appropriate as it should be. There are bits that seem peculiar from a Commons point of view," she says.

Lord Richard speaks to John Humphrys on the Today programme (2' 50")

Speaking on the BBC Radio's Today programme, the leader of the House of Lords, Lord Ivor Richard, denied that he was holding discussions with Lord Carter and said it was not a matter for the House of Lords.

"I don't know where this came from but it's a matter for the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl Marshall ... but we are looking at the introduction ceremony of new peers and other ceremonies."

"There's talk, there is always talk about these kind of things."

When asked if he believed that the number of State Openings should be cut Lord Richard said there were "plus points and minuses" but insisted that the Queen's Speech was good for democracy.

"If you have Queen's Speeches it sets out the leglislative programme and produces a discipline that the powers that be have to stick by."

Mrs Taylor, MP for Dewsbury, said she favours wide-ranging reform of age-old practices.

"The millennium makes it easier to show people why there's a need for change. The idea of a Parliament fit for the 21st century has some resonance. And the influx of new MPs emphasises the point."

Other changes she would like to see include forcing MPs to limit their speeches to 10 minutes, the use of smart cards for voting, suits and ties to replace the tights, cocked hat, buckled shoes and breeches worn by the Serjeant-at-Arms and other officials.

The phasing out of the practice of carrying in sick MPs on stretchers to vote and simplifying how MPs address each other will also be addressed.

"Now we have so many new MPs, it is ridiculous to expect them all to refer to each other by constituencies prefixed by styles such as Honourable, Right Honourable, Learned, Gallant, Lady, Gentlemen and Friend," she says.

"Why not say Hon Friend and make it all much easier?"

The Commons modernisation committee, headed by Mrs Taylor, will examine changes to parliamentary ceremony later this year.

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