Public accounts commission established

Question 1

Public accounts commission established:

Date

Answer 1

1691

Question 2

Public accounts commission established:

Summary

Answer 2

During William’s reign, concerns among MPs about the huge sums of money spent on war led to a number of parliamentary commissions being set up to investigate government expenditure.

Commissions had the power to interrogate ministers and call for papers from government to be read and consulted in order to establish whether money had been spent appropriately.

Would then publish reports, which would often expose corruption or waste at William’s court.

The commission was renewed each year until 1697, although William blocked more being established- make a comeback later on.

Question 3

Public accounts commission established:

Significance

Answer 3

Commissions were the forerunner to modern-day select committees within parliament.

• BUT In the second half of the 1690s, the commission lost some of its initial impact and was increasingly used to attack unfavourable ministers rather than to act as a check on finances.

High profile members of the House of Commons, such as the speaker Sir John Trevor, were expelled for financial malpractice.

Parliament was able to audit government expenditure.

• This was unprecedented, and the fact that the commission into public accounts was paid by and accountable to parliament rather than the monarch gave it a degree of independence.