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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On6OJLRvm5g

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