Holding The Government To Account Guide

Question 1

What is Parliament and the Government?

Answer 1

Parliament and Government create and pass the bills and policies for the country. They hold the power but must be held to account.

Question 2

What does it meant to hold the Government to account?

Answer 2

This is where the ability is given to scrutinise the actions of Parliament and the Government, highlights their failures and exert influence on their decisions.

Question 3

What is the legislative process?

Answer 3

The legislative process is where all bills are scrutinised by cross party committees before being debated, and during this time amendments can be suggested or the bill can be completely voted against.

Question 4

What effect does a bill being defeated during the legislative process have?

Answer 4

There are occasional defeats of Government bills which lead to the bill being scrapped or amended.

Question 5

What restricts MPs from voting the way they wish to?

Answer 5

A whip system exists which restricts and punishes MPs. Parties use this as a way to control votes as they threaten MPs with no chance of promotion of reelection.

Question 6

When did Labour use the whip system in 2024?

Answer 6

In July of 2024, Labour suspended 7 MPs for voting to scrap the 2 child benefit cap.

Question 7

How does a Government majority restrict scrutiny even more?

Answer 7

Due to there typically being a Government majority scrutiny is limited as most votes tend to go in the governing parties favour. Between this and the whip system a loss is highly unlikely.

Question 8

Why is scrutinising the Government in the House of Commons so ineffective?

Answer 8

Scrutinising the Government in the House of Commons is ineffective due to the likelihood of scrutiny being so low.

Question 9

What is Prime Minister Questions?

Answer 9

Prime Minster Questions occur every Wednesday which allows MPs to challenge the PM on any aspect of Government policy.

Question 10

Why is the media attention of Prime Minister Questions so beneficial?

Answer 10

The media attention that Prime Minister Questions gains can effectively pressure the Government and also highlight issues.

Question 11

How did Prime Minsters Questions raise an issue in 2017?

Answer 11

In 2017 the Government ended the 55p-a-minute charge on welfare claim helplines as it was an issue raise on Prime Minister Questions.

Question 12

How are the questions on Prime Ministers Questions restricted?

Answer 12

Only the leaders of the two main opposition parties can ask supplementary questions which then allows the Prime Minister to avoid answering tough questions properly.

Question 13

How is time wasted on Prime Ministers Questions?

Answer 13

‘Planted’ questions from the governing parties MPs waste time and are used as a way to praise the Government instead of scrutinise it.

Question 14

How does Prime Ministers Questions being misused make it ineffective?

Answer 14

Prime Ministers Questions is regarded as a way to score political points instead of holding the Government to accounts and so is misused a lot.

Question 15

What are Select Committees?

Answer 15

Select Committees examine departments of the Government and questions Government members. They also gather evidence and write reports on the performance of the Government and its departments and make recommendations.

Question 16

Why do Select Committees only have minimal impact?

Answer 16

The Government must respond to Select Committees but they are non-binding and so they can choose to ignore their recommendations.

Question 17

When did a Select Committee suggestion get defeated?

Answer 17

There were suggestions to make menopause a protected characteristic in 2023 and for menopause leave to be introduced but this was defeated.

Question 18

Why will Select Committees struggle to achieve much scrutiny?

Answer 18

The proportion of members in the committee is equivalent to the proportion of seats in the House of Commons which typically has a Government majority which minimises the amount of scrutiny able to be achieved.

Question 19

What are Private Member’s Bills?

Answer 19

This is an opportunity of backbench MPs to raise ignored issues by the Government and create bills based on this.

Question 20

Which Private Member’s Bill was introduced in 2023?

Answer 20

In 2023 a SNP MP introduced leave for parents with children receiving neonatal care.

Question 21

Why is the defeat of a Private Member’s Bill not the worst outcome?

Answer 21

The bills may be defeated but it can still put pressure on the Government.

Question 22

When were the Government pressured by a defeated Private Member’s Bill.

Answer 22

A bill to ban up skirting was defeated in 2018 but there was massive media backlash which made the Government u-turn on this decision.

Question 23

Why do Private Member’s Bills only have a minimal impact?

Answer 23

Private Member’s Bills are given less portions and are only given 13 days to be debated.

Question 24

How does a Government majority affect Private Member’s Bills.

Answer 24

Due to there usually being a Government majority there is a high chance that these bills are voted against and therefore defeated.