Parliamentary Mechanisms for accountability

Question 1

What types of parliamentary questions are there?

Answer 1

Oral and written questions.

Question 2

What are the main features of oral questions?

Answer 2

• Ministers must answer questions relating to their department’s business
• PMQ’s are the most publicised form of oral question lasting for 30 mins per week
• Question time for other ministers operates on a departmental rota in which ministers well answer questions once every five weeks

Question 3

What are topical questions?

Answer 3

Topical questions were introduced in 2010 and are used where an MP feels an urgent answer is required from a minister. This is at the speaker’s discretion and if granted will take place at the end of question time.

Question 4

What are the main features of written questions?

Answer 4

• Questions receive a written response
• These Q&A’s are recorded in Hansard, which records all answers to questions as well as debates and laws of the land
• ## highly valued by MPs in scrutinising the government

Question 5

What limitations are there of written questions?

Answer 5

• There is an advisory cost limit of which there is a ‘disproportionate cost threshold’ of £850. This means the government department can refuse to answer questions which exceed this threshold
• Many MPs believe answers to questions are evasive

Question 6

What have the House of Commons Procedure Committee done in regards to written questions?

Answer 6

They have begun to monitor the timeliness of response and consider complaints from MPs as to inadequate answers.

Question 7

What are general debates?

Answer 7

• these are the traditional business of parliament
• several hours are spent debating laws, local or national
• these are all recorded in Hansard

Question 8

What are adjournment debates?

Answer 8

• Where parliament debate about a general topic without a formal decision being made
• 30 mins are allocated at the end of the day for these debates
• MPs receive a fairly quicl respone

Question 9

What are urgent debates and when would they be needed?

Answer 9

• Debates on “specific and important matters that should have urgent consideration”
• Although rarely allowed there is usually 1 per session
• 2016 was an exception as there were two: The UK steel industry in April and the Aleppo and Syria crisis in October
• If granted they usually take place within 24 hours

Question 10

What does standing order 14 of the HOC state?

Answer 10

that “government business shall take precedence as every sitting”

Question 11

What are opposition days?

Answer 11

• these are days where the opposition parties choose what is debated
• there are 20 days set aside for this

Question 12

Are debates and effective form of holding parliament to account?

Answer 12

In theory no;

• Wright believes that regardless of debates MPs will rarely change there mind and vote the same way regardless.
• Norton believes, in regard to opposition days, that they have no real effect on the government

Question 13

What are the purpose of select committees?

Answer 13

To scrutinise policy decisions

Question 14

What types of select committees are there?

Answer 14

1) Departmental select committees (every govt. department has their own corresponding select committee)
2) Cross-Cutting committees which look at every government department (Public Accounts Committee)
3) Committees on the conduct of MPs (Committee of standard)
4) Scotland has combined committees

Question 15

How are select committees composed?

Answer 15

(a) 11-16 MPs sit on a select committee
(b) they are made up of backbench MPs
(c) they are cross party which means no single party has an overall majority in any particular committee

Question 16

How is a chair of a select committee elected?

Answer 16

Prior to the expenses scandal of 2009, the chair of select committees were determined by the party whip which exerted a partisan influence. However, in 2010 it was changed so that MP’s used a secret ballot to vote for the chair.

Question 17

What are the key functions of select committees?

Answer 17

(a) examine government proposals for green papers
(b) they make further inquiries
(c) examine expenditure plans from departments and agencies

Question 18

How do select committees work?

Answer 18

They begin by selecting their own subjects of inquiry
They then;
(a) call for written and oral evidence from a wide range of groups and individuals (anyone can respond)
(b) they choose people to give evidence which allows for thorough questioning

Question 19

Can select committees compel ministers and civil servants to appear before them?

Answer 19

No, however, most do appear to answer questions to save from embarassment.

Question 20

What do select committees do after their inquiry is complete?

Answer 20

(a) the committee will produce a report and set out its findings along with any reccomendations
(b) in these reports committees will detail all written evidence and a transcript of oral sessions
(c) the recommendations they make will be based on an assessment of the evidence they have heard (authoritative and legitimate)

Question 21

What do the government do in response to a select committees report?

Answer 21

They must make a response within 60 days and that response must be published.

Question 22

What are the advantages of select committees?

Answer 22

(a) in depth examination
(b) least partisan parliamentary mechanism
(c) expertise/specialisation
(d) investigate discretion
(e) give a voice to backbenchers
(f) source of information
(g) gives MPs a chance to gain expertise and participate in the workings of the government

Question 23

Out of the following;

A - Questions (oral and written)
B - Debates
C - Select Committees

which mechanism is the most effective in scrutinising the work of the government?

Answer 23

C - Select Committees

Question 24

What are inquiries?

Answer 24

A formal investigation into a major problem or disaster chaired by a judge or senior figure?

Question 25

What type of events would constitute the need for an inquiry?

Answer 25

(a) A public scandal
(b) failings in the public service
(c) political misconduct

Question 26

What is the main purpose of a public inquiry?

Answer 26

To collect facts on the particular wrongdoing and ensure it does not happen again?

Question 27

Which piece of legislation regulates rules on access to documents in regard to an inquiry?

Answer 27

Inquiries Act 2005

Question 28

When may an inquiry be caused?

Answer 28

The 2005 act states an inquiry may come about where there is public concern in particular events, or where particular events may cause public concern

Question 29

If a minister does not conduct an inquiry can it be challenged?

Answer 29

Yes, both politically and legally.
R(Amin) v Secretary of State for the Home Department 2003;
- Involved a man being murdered by his cellmate in a youth detention centre
- the murderer was known for violent tendencies and racist views
- the home secretary did no carry out an inquiry
- the family of the victim mounted a challenge on the grounds that their rights under Article 2 of the ECHR (which provides the right to life to be protected by law) had been breached
- The House of Lords held that there was an obligation to investigate which rendered the home secretary’s refusal unlawful.

Question 30

What could be seen as a negative aspect of inquiries?

Answer 30

They are slow and time consuming

Sometimes the public are not satisfied by the outcome

Question 31

Are recommendations made by inquiries binding?

Answer 31

NO, however, most of the time the government is persuaded to adopt the changes suggested by the inquiry.

Question 32

What was the purpose of the Chilcot inquiry?

Answer 32

To investigate the British involvement in the Iraq war

• The inquiry was set up in 2009
• the inquiry covers details prior, during and after the war
• In 2012 the report was expected, however, the government vetod certain documents which could not be disclosed
• the report was eventually released in 2016
• it essentially accused the Cabinet of not releasing conversation between Blair and Bush to parliament

Question 33

What are the facts of the Leveson inquiry?

Answer 33

This inquiry was established by Inquiries Act 2005
Did not involve government action, but, how the press were acting outwith their means by phone hacking
- Announced in July of 2011 and hearings began in November of 2011
- Witnesses and evidence was made public
- Was led by a judge, Lord Justice Leveson
- In November 2012 the report was produced with recommendatios and findings, 4 volumes of 2000 pages

Question 34

What was proposed by the Leveson inquiry?

Answer 34

A new independent body to replace the press complaints procedure which was the independent press standards organisation.
This proposal was implemented in 2014