The Leader of the House of Commons, Mr Robin Cook, yesterday welcomed the "momentum for reform" built up by MPs after Monday night's backbench rebellion.
More than 100 Labour MPs joined Tories and Liberal Democrats to force the government to think again about the chairmanship of select committees.
The backlash followed the sacking of the independent-minded Labour chairmen, Ms Gwyneth Dunwoody and Mr Donald Anderson.
During Commons question time, Mr Cook said: "I very much welcome the momentum for reform that was gathered last night.
"I hope we will be able to take that reform momentum forward to achieve real reforms in both the ways the select committees are set up and the ways in which they are able to exercise their powers."
Mr Cook promised consideration of early reform of the way select committee members are selected amid a growing concern over the powers of the whips.
The modernisation committee will be asked tomorrow to review the process of nominations to select committees "to ensure their independence", Mr Cook said. "If we reach agreement, I would intend to report to the House in the autumn."
Labour's Ms Helen Jackson (Sheffield Hillsborough) said there was a tendency to "mouth the platitude" that it was crucial to enhance parliament's role in scrutinising the Executive.
"Leaving things as they are neither modernises committees, nor enhances their powers. "Every member should be allocated work on a committee to enhance their role as MPs," she said.
Mr Cook said it was for MPs to decide if they wished to serve on committees but the House might benefit from having larger numbers on the committees.
The government had to listen to its backbenchers' concerns, a senior minister said.
The Europe Minister, Mr Peter Hain, said the New Labour administration had to have a "two-way partnership" with its MPs if it was to deliver its programme.
Although technically a free vote, the act of defiance was widely seen as Mr Blair's first Commons defeat since coming to power in 1997, and a rebuff from MPs who resent the leadership's "control freakery".
A former Labour chief whip, Mr Derek Foster, called the government's defeat a "historic step forward" and predicted that Mr Cook would upgrade the powers of parliament.
The former culture secretary, Mr Chris Smith, the MP for Islington South and Finsbury, who was expected to have replaced Mr Anderson as foreign affairs select committee chairman, said he understood the Commons decision.