Post on 11-Jan-2017
transcript
Select Committees: an introduction
Kate AndersonParliament’s Outreach Service
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
Select Committees• Set up 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 relevantGovernment department
Make up of the House of Commons State of the Parties - May 2015
ConservativeLabourSNPDUPLiberal DemocratSinn FeinPlaid CymruSDLPUlster UnionistUKIPGreenSpeakerIndependent
House of Commons select 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
House of Lords select 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
House of Lords select 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
Joint committees
• Committees which have members from both Houses– Joint Committee on Human Rights– Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments– ad hoc committees
Benefits of select committees
• 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.
Stages of an inquiryInquiry announcedCall for evidence
Written evidence deadline
Oral evidence sessions
Report preparation
Publication of report
Government response
Key points• Independent of Government• Seek consensus• Committees control work programme• Inquiries are based on evidence received• Programmes are flexible• Anyone can submit evidence
General advice
• Which Committees 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
House of Commons Library
• 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
www.parliament.uk
www.parliament.uk
http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/committees/
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
Where can I get information?• www.parliament.uk @UKParliament
• Commons Information Office020 7219 4272 @HouseofCommons hcinfo@parliament.uk
• Lords Information Office020 7219 3107 @UKHouseofLords hlinfo@parliament.uk
• Parliament’s Outreach Service020 7219 1650@UKParlOutreach outreach@parliament.uk