Departmental select committees

Question 1

When were departmental select committees created and by who

Answer 1

1979

Margaret Thatcher

Question 2

What is the role of departmental select committees

Answer 2

Departmental select committees have the responsibility of scrutinising expenditure, administration and policy of the relevant government department and its associated public bodies.

Question 3

What changed in 2010 for DSC

Answer 3

They were given the responsibility to conduct post and pre legislation.

Question 4

What are Departmental select committees

Answer 4

• They are a cross-party group of Mps that scrutinise government departments
• There are currently 19 DSC consisting of 11-14 members with expertise in the area
• They exist for the life of parliament (up to 10 years)

Question 5

What are the effectiveness of DSC (1)

Answer 5

• They can conduct inquiries into government departments and produce reports that the government have to respond within 60 days
• They have the power to send for persons, papers and records and can issue a summons.
• They have a longer life than Public bill committees
• Their meetings are televised meaning high media coverage

Question 6

What are the effectiveness of DSC (2)

Answer 6

• Ministers and officials feel compelled to attend meetings and be questioned to adhere to parliamentary sovereignty.
• They have lack of whip control
• Recommendations made in the committee influences government policy with 40% of recommendations being accepted by government
• They also fulfil a representative role as they have a website which allows them to invite written submissions from members of the public, this evidence is collected through oral and written submissions throughout the inquiry process.
  They also hold regional hearings to ensure their evidence is representative of the general public

Question 7

What are the ineffectiveness of DSC (1)

Answer 7

• They don’t have the ability to introduce their own legislation, meaning they don’t have the power to enforce decisions and recommendations
• Ministers might not provide much info when questioned and the committee can’t force a witness to answer questions

Question 8

What is an example of a DSC requesting a formal summons

Answer 8

In 2011 Rupert murdoch, chairman of news international, couldn’t a hearing issued by the culture, media and sports committee and was issued a formal summons to appear on the 19th of July 2011

Question 9

Examples of Dsc

Answer 9

• Justice select committee

- Education select committee

Question 10

What is an example of a DSC holding a committee to account

Answer 10

The ministry of justice, Sanjed Javid, being scrutinised by the justice select committee, Dominc Rab.