Member News
Ministers have been accused of lacking the will to implement an e-petitions system on the Parliament website.
A report from the Commons procedure committee said the government should think again about its failure to take the project forward.
The cross-party committee expressed regret that the government had not approved funding to support the development of an effective system for online engagement with the public.
The report concluded: " We very much regret that the Government has changed its mind and now appears to lack the will to see this project through to its conclusion."
The criticism comes amid continued embarrassment for the government over the use of petitions on the Number 10 website.
A petition calling for the prime minister to resign has now received over 50,000 signatures and is the most popular petition currently open on the website.
The procedures committee said it remains of the view that the Commons should have an e-petitions system due to the "significant potential" for enhancing political engagement.
Friday's report suggested the government had failed to support the development of the project despite previous approval by the Commons leader.
Committee chairman Greg Knight said: "We are very disappointed that the government's initial enthusiasm for e-petitions appears to have evaporated. We call upon the government to think again on this issue."