Parliament - Powers of HoC and HoL

Question 1

Exclusive powers/abilities of Commons

Answer 1

Scrutiny of government finances via Public Accounts SC
Complete veto of legislation in some circumstances - Strong majority
Vote of no confidence Callaghan 1979 and May 2015
Departmental and non select committees scrutiny
Final approval of amendments to legislation

Question 2

Shared powers of HoC HoL

Answer 2

Debating and voting on legislation
Proposing amendments to legislation
Calling ministers and gov to account
Debating issues of the day
Private members may introduce legislation of their own

Question 3

Exclusive powers of Lords ++

Answer 3

Examining secondary legislation and recommending further considerations
Delaying legislation for up to a year - 2008 Counter terrorism bill, 2012 Welfare reform bill

Question 4

Scrutiny

Commons - Questioning

Answer 4

PMQs - Blair final appearance “Always feared the commons”, Labour calling out universal credit cuts
UQs - Jim McMahon International travel 2021, Grant Shapps answered
However prepared nature of some responses makes it more promotion
However Friendly MPs just big up plans
However it is political theatre, shouting etc.

Question 5

Commons - Select committees scrutiny of gov dep

Success/Failures

Answer 5

Departmental and non (Liaison, Public accounts and standards), specialised and focused questions - Bar Hodge on PAC called corps to pay tax-
Interrogative style of questioning with witnesses and evidence - Cummings 7 hour testimony on covid mishandling
Committee chairs paid well and elected via secret ballot - MP Walloston doctor critical of gov health policies, gov applied half of recommendations
However many committees are majority gov MPs like treasury
However gov can block proper scrutiny - 2017 May blocked SC summoning Mi5 agent on Nat Sec
However their findings are recommendations

Question 6

Commons - Other scrutiny

Answer 6

Public Bill Committees (New one for each bill) , strengthened in 2007 by evidence session limits removed, however gov whip majority and rarely listened to.
Opposition, Blair highlighted weaknesses in Major, Cameron opposition underline divisions of blair
Vote of no confidence - Weakened may

Question 7

Lords good

Answer 7

Party discipline - weaker, so more independent. Lords defeated gov 14 times over EU withdrawal bill, defeated coalition 48 times, commons 0. 129 Gov defeats in last parli session 21-22.
House of opposition - Nikka da Costa, former dir legislative affairs No 10
Legislation - Willing to challenge, Lords defeated 2012 Welfare reform act, 2013 cut to legal aid, delayed 2008 Counter terror bill, constituency boundary changes
Salisbury convention not apply under coalition or weak minor gov 2010-19. 2019 CON Mani said identification at polls, was vague so Salisbury doesn’t apply, lords can act on ID cards
Professionalised lords - Lord Sugar, Lane Fox digi marketing

Question 8

Lords weak

Answer 8

Parliaments act 1911 and 49 - can only delay by 1 year - Fox Hunting Act
Salisbury Convention - Cannot influence gov manifesto areas
Unelected and 92 hered remain, less legitimate
Commons can override by waiting for next session - Transparency of Lobbying act 2014
Reasonable time convention - HoL should not use its 1 year delay often