Parliamentary Committees

Question 1

What are legislative Committees and what are the issues with them

Answer 1

Backbench MPs and Lords sit on these committees. New one is created when a bill goes through Parliament. Role is to scrutinise each bill, identify strengths, problems and propose amendments. Pressure groups, and other bodies, lobby members to make amendments
- government has a majority, Members chosen by party leadership/whips and expected to follow party line. Lords amendments can be overturned by Commons

Question 2

What is Liason Committee?

Answer 2

• Composed of chairs of the Select Committees – experienced backbenchers. Scrutinise PM 3 times a year. PMs find it ‘unsettling’. Johnson avoided it 3 times in 2019. Chair is now chosen by PM – so could become less independent

Question 3

What did the Wright Reforms accomplish?

Answer 3

• Chair of each committee is now paid/elected by whole House. Positions are seen as an alternative to being a government minister. Committee Members are chosen by party members (not leaders) more independent. Members are non-partisan; reports are unanimous so more critical of the executive.
• more proactive, look to future, rather than criticising previous policy. interview experts and important figures - and televised. 40% of reports are acted upon by government.
• Lords has Investigative Select Committees that cover 2 or more departments. Temporary ad hoc committees to investigate particular issues. undertake post-legislative scrutiny to see if bills work in practice

Question 4

What are Departmental Select Committees?

Answer 4

-19 Commons committees, scrutinise government departments and areas of policy. made up of backbench MPs. Monitor departmental activity
- the Wright reforms are widely thought to have significantly improved Select Committees. Still have limited money, few resources reports can be ignored. No executive authority.

Question 5

What are Backbench Affairs Committees?

Answer 5

– made up of 8 members from 3 main parties (party elects its own members). Chair comes from Opposition. Backbench MPs make requests. MPs control 35 days to debate issues of their own choosing. Debates triggered by e-petitions with over 100,000 signatures, Hillsborough enquiry – can be ignored by executive. Parliamentary Timetable is still largely controlled by the Executive