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Members of Parliament (MPs) who had been on recess for a number of weeks yesterday returned to a refurbished and fully digitised chamber. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets fitted in the chamber, however, turned out to be a nightmare for some of the MPs because they did not know how to use them. The new ICT set up elevates the country�s legislature to an e-democracy dispensation, where parliamentary business will be done with electronic speed and efficiency. The refurbishment has also increased the capacity of the house to accommodate the current 275 MPs. Some of the MPs said it would take a while before they could get used to the new devices. The best thing which should have been done, according to them, was for the leaders of the House to organise an orientation for them before the House resumed. Although the MPs were delighted at the new developments, some expressed frustration at the fact that their �Born Before Computer� (BBC) status will not help them to adjust to the technological innovations in the House. In his opening remarks, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, said the new arrangement was in fulfilment of a pledge made by the Parliamentary Service Board to deliver a completely re-configured chamber by October 31, 2014. Re-configuring of the chamber involved the replacement of the old, large-size wooden tables and chairs with new smaller-size electronic workstations, microphones and chairs. Discomfort eliminated The expansion of the House has eliminated the earlier discomfort experienced by members resulting from crowding 275 members in a seating space designed for 230 members. �We now have new leather chairs replacing the about 20-year old ones, new robotic video cameras for televising Parliament, new extra-large television and voting screen displays, new carpets, new ceiling, new chandelier and more,� Mr Adjaho said. He said for the first time, provision had been made for physically-challenged persons to enter and exit the chamber in compliance with the provisions of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006, Act 715. He informed members that the computer consoles on their tables had been installed with legislative software that had the capacity to ensure that various parliamentary papers, including order papers, votes and proceedings, committee reports and bills, among other documents, could be accessed by members while in the house. �It would also enable you to electronically express your vote, if required. Our intention is to reduce to the barest minimum, the cost of stationery and printing items,� he said. Office accommodation soon He announced that soon the House would fulfil its long cherished dream of having decent office accommodation for the leadership, members and some staff of the service. �The consultants inform us that the civil works have been virtually completed, and we are currently going through the process for the procurement of furniture and furnishing,� he said. The agenda for the current meeting, he said, was a hectic one as the House would be dealing with the financial policy and budget statement for the year 2015. He expressed the hope that members would give their maximum co-operation and also improve on their attendance to enable the house to complete business on time.