Committees Flashcards
What role do legislative committees play?
Laws are scrutinised by legislative committees and amendments are made to improve legislation.
How does the process of amending legislation work?
Proposed changes in the HOL must also be approved by the HOC and unwanted amendments from the HOC can be overturned in the ‘Report Stage’
How are legislative committees different from departmental committees?
Party loyalty is expected to apply in legislative committees and they’re not free from party discipline but departmental committees are supposed to be non-partisan and neutral.
Name two departmental committees.
Any two of the below:
- Business, innovation and skills
- Communities and local government
- Culture, Media and Sport
- Defence
- Energy and climate change
- Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Foreign Affairs
- Health
- Home Affairs
- International development
- Justice
- Northern Ireland Affairs
- Science and technology
- Scottish Affairs
- Transport
- Treasury
- Welsh Affairs
- Work and Pensions
How many members make up a departmental committee and how are they chosen?
11-14, they’re elected in the HOC
What do departmental committees aim for with their reports and why?
A unanimous report because it carries more weight and puts greater pressure on government to consider it.
Give three aspects of the role of departmental select committees.
Any three of the below:
- To investigate and scrutinise gov departments to determine whether they’re acting effectively
- To consider major departmental policies
- To consider proposed legislation
- To investigate serious errors of the department
- To consider matters of major public concern
Assess the success rate of reports by select committees?
40% of reports are considered and then 40% of such reports are acted upon.
What does the public accounts committee do?
checks how effectively and efficiently government conducts public expenditure.
Assess how the Liasion committee works and how significant it is. (4)
The Liasion committee calls the PM to account
It’s made up of the chairs of all select committees.
It can criticise, publicise and recommend government action.
They lack powers of enforcement
Explain the 2018 example concerning the transport committee
The transport committee received evidence from Joanna Whittington (CEO at the office of Rail and Road) concerning rail infrastructure investment for 2019-24.
Explain the 2018 example concerning the science and technology committee.
The science and technology committee has been investigating the possible risks/exploitation of research and innovation after Brexit
Explain the actions of the work and pensions committee in 2016.
In 2016 the work and pensions committee launched an enquiry into the BHS scandal and Sir Phillip Green was made to give evidence.
