Evaluate the view that select committees are an effective means of scrutiny in parliament

Question 1

What are the points and counter points for this essay

Answer 1

1. the SC has vast power (Effective)

CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority

2. PMQ as another form of scrutiny (Effective)

CA - SC are more effective than PMQ

3. Opposition good form of scrutiny (Effective)

CA - Opposition days not freq + SC consistent

Question 2

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) what do select committees do

Answer 2

They shadow departments

Question 3

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) what was it like prior to the wright reforms

Answer 3

prior to the wright reforms SC chairs and members were appointed by Party Leaders and the PM would appoint loyal members

Question 4

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) what is it like now due to the Wright Reforms

Answer 4

the Wright Reforms, implemented by David Cameron, introduced a secret ballot for members and most chairs

Select committees in parliament are now elected by fellow members

Question 5

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) what role do the whips now have in the election of the SC chairs and provide an analysis

Answer 5

the whips, therefore, now have no part to play in the election of select committee members

this therefore shows that the power has shifted from the hands of the PM to backbench members in the SC

Question 6

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) explain the idea of independent minded appointments

Answer 6

independent minded MPs have been elected to these SC after 2010

Question 7

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) explain Robert Halforms history and what he does now

Answer 7

Robert Halform has been a serial rebel against BJ and is now the education select committee

Question 8

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) what are the areas that SC scrutinise

Answer 8

SC scrutinise the running of departments, legislation that is to or has been passed by a dept as well as the dept budgets

Question 9

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) explore the publish reports and percent accepted stat

Answer 9

SC publish reports after their investigation, 40% of SC recommendations are accepted into legislation

Question 10

1. SC have vast powers (Effective) explain the 5p plastic bag scheme

Answer 10

the 5p plastic bag scheme was formulated by the environment SC and was adopted by David Cameron

Question 11

1. CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority (Not Effective) what would be the opening sentence and provide an analysis of it

Answer 11

the government still has a majority on committees

this therefore means that the govt influence on the select committees are still in existence and effective to a greater extent than expected

Question 12

1. CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority (Not Effective) explore the idea of strong party affiliations and provide an analysis

Answer 12

members of SC still have strong party affiliations

this therefore means that while the SC committees are independent bodies, an alignment in ideologies with a political party will inherently shape and influence the workings of that select committee

Question 13

1. CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority (Not Effective) explore the idea of SC hearings being theatrical

Answer 13

Select committees can be criticised as having become too theatrical and adopting a judicial take on its hearings

Question 14

1. CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority (Not Effective) explore the Russel Brand SC hearing with the home affairs

Answer 14

Russel Brands select committee hearing with the Home Affairs SC was highly comical and rather unofficial in style due to constant joke making

Question 15

1. CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority (Not Effective) explore the idea of the SC investigating non-central issues to parliament simply

Answer 15

SC may sometimes investigate issues which are of no care or relevancy to parliament

Question 16

1. CA - SC weak due to theatre + govt majority (Not Effective) give the Margaret Hodge example regarding non-essential investigations and link this to the analytical point about govt getting an easy ride

Answer 16

Margaret Hodge’s SC focus was on the companies.

the govt got an easy ride as it made better entertainment for her to bring in the head of google rather than a civil servant therefore losing focus

Question 17

2. PMQ another form of scrutiny (Not Effective) explain the idea of Bercow Backbenchers champion

Answer 17

in the first 5yrs as speaker, Bercow allowed 159 urgent questions to be asked by BB

Question 18

2. PMQ another form of scrutiny (Not Effective) explore the idea of difficult questions being asked during PMQ’s and what was David Davis’ statement

Answer 18

BB’s have shown themselves to be more ready to ask difficult questions

David Davis yelled “For God’s sake resign” during PMQ

Question 19

2. PMQ another form of scrutiny (Not Effective) explore the idea of loyalty and PMQ

Answer 19

PMQ is no longer a place to show absolute loyalty to the leadership

Question 20

2. CA - SC more effective than PMQ whips less control (Effective) what would be the opening sentence to this point

Answer 20

SC are far more effective in comparison to PMQ’s as whips have less control over questions

Question 21

2 CA - SC more effective than PMQ whips less control (Effective) explain the functions of the liaison committee

Answer 21

the liaison committee meet twice a year and are made up of all the heads of the SC and interview the PM for hours

these meetings often take half a day

these are more effective than PMQ’s as it is long, detailed and ask very uncomfortable questions

Question 22

2. CA - SC more effective than PMQ whips less control (Effective) explore the idea of PMQ’s not being authentic

Answer 22

a lot of the PMQ questions are scripted and ask questions which make the leader seem profound unlike SC which provide more genuine scrutiny

Question 23

3. Opposition more effective (Not effective) what was KS able to do in relation to the PM lying

Answer 23

KS was able to get an inquiry into whether the PM lied to parliament

Question 24

3. Opposition more effective (Not effective) explain a U-turn made by the govt due to labour

Answer 24

conservative govt did a U-turn on disability payment and tax credit reduction due to labour opposition

Question 25

3. Opposition more effective (Not effective) Explain the halting of the Sunday trading hours

Answer 25

Rebel tories and labour opposition defeated a policy that would result in the gradual erosion of Sunday’s special status

Question 26

3. CA - SC are a constant commitment (Effective) what would be the opening sentence in relation to opposition success

Answer 26

Opposition success In chamber are few and far between and rarely defeat the government on big issues

Question 27

3. CA - SC are a constant commitment (Effective) what did Yvette Cooper decline and why

Answer 27

Yvette Cooper declined becoming shadow Home Secretary as she believed that she was more influential as a SC chair

Question 28

3. CA - SC are a constant commitment (Effective) what did Hodge state and what percent of recommendations are taken into law

Answer 28

Hodge said that she was more influential over policy making than when she was a minister

40% of SC recommendations are accepted