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Introduction to Select Committees
This document provides an introduction to select committees in the UK Parliament. It explains that select committees scrutinize specific policy areas and government departments, conduct inquiries by requesting written and oral evidence from groups and individuals, and produce reports with recommendations to hold the government accountable. Both the House of Commons and House of Lords have various select committees that examine policies, spending, and administration in different issue areas using the expertise of their members.
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Introduction to Select Committees
- 1. Select Committees: an introduction KateAnderson Parliament’s Outreach Service
- 2. Parliament’s Outreach Service •A service from the Houses of Parliament • Politically neutral • Aim is to increase knowledge and engagement with work and processes of Parliament • Can come to groups and explain how to engage with Parliament
- 3. Select Committees • Setup to scrutinise specific areas of work and Government departments • Work carried out through inquiries • Groups and individuals submit evidence to inquiries • Inquiry report created and passed to the relevant Government department
- 4. Make up ofthe House of Commons State of the Parties - May 2015 Conservative Labour SNP DUP Liberal Democrat Sinn Fein Plaid Cymru SDLP Ulster Unionist UKIP Green Speaker Independent
- 5. House of Commonsselect committees • One committee for each Government department • Examine three aspects of the department: spending, policies and administration • Have 11 members to reflect the political composition of the House of Commons • Some committees cross department boundaries, such as the Public Accounts or the Environmental Audit Committee
- 6. House of Lordsselect committees • Examine issues rather than the work of specific departments • Investigate specialist subjects which take advantage of the experience of members of the Lords • There is no set political composition
- 7. House of Lordsselect committees • Five main Lords select committees • European Union Select Committee • Science and Technology Select Committee • Communications Select Committee • Constitution Select Committee • Economic Affairs Select Committees • Ad hoc committees set up for a specific subject • Equality Act 2010 and Disability Committee • Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee
- 8. Joint committees • Committeeswhich have members from both Houses – Joint Committee on Human Rights – Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments – ad hoc committees
- 9. Benefits of selectcommittees • A key way in which Parliament holds Government to account • Enables Parliament to examine key issues in great detail – more than debates or questions • Allows huge range of expertise to be applied to scrutiny • Independent minded • Can call for people, papers, records.
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- 11. Stages of aninquiry Inquiry announced Call for evidence Written evidence deadline Oral evidence sessions Report preparation Publication of report Government response
- 12. Key points • Independentof Government • Seek consensus • Committees control work programme • Inquiries are based on evidence received • Programmes are flexible • Anyone can submit evidence
- 13. General advice • WhichCommittees are of interest? • Sign up for press notices • Submit written evidence – and possibly oral • Watch oral evidence sessions online or in person • Read written evidence and transcripts • Follow on twitter
- 14. House of CommonsLibrary • The House of Commons Library briefings cover all major pieces of legislation, other major policy areas, topical issues, statistics and FAQs • Legislation briefings are also on the Bills pages • Our blog includes regular analysis from our specialists http://commonslibraryblog.com/ • Key issues for the new Parliament available in the foyer http://www.parliament.uk/commons-library @commonslibrary
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- 18. Your next steps... •Watch, read or attend a debate on a bill • Use http://services.parliament.uk/bills/ to find information on specific bills (e.g. Library briefing papers or amendment papers) • Use www.parliament.uk to research MPs and Peers with an interest in your issue • Write to an interested MP or Peer about your issue • Read the advice on submitting evidence to Public Bill Committees • Submit evidence to a Public Bill Committee
- 19. Where can Iget information? • www.parliament.uk @UKParliament • Commons Information Office 020 7219 4272 @HouseofCommons hcinfo@parliament.uk • Lords Information Office 020 7219 3107 @UKHouseofLords hlinfo@parliament.uk • Parliament’s Outreach Service 020 7219 1650 @UKParlOutreach outreach@parliament.uk