Scrutiny Flashcards
What is Scrutiny
Examining something in a close or detailed way
8 types of Scrutiny
Written Questions
Oral Questions
PMQs
Debate
BackBenchers
The House of Lords
Departmental Select Committee
Public Bill Committee
What are Written Questions/how do they scrutinise and state an example
An MP can ask a written question to any Gov. minister with the minister having to reply within 7 days
Up to 35,000 written questions are asked annually
e.g., To ask the Gov. what will be the total cost of a 6.5% pay rise agreed for teachers
What are Oral Questions/how do they scrutinise and state an example
Each Parliamentary day starts with ministerial questions where two ministers are typically questioned every day.
MPs have to put their questions in advance but can ask a supplementary question
Opposition MPs typically try to catch MPs out through questions
e.g., What recent steps has he taken with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the safety of the NI Police Staff and their families
What are PMQs/how do they scrutinise and state an example
Happens on Wednesday at noon for 30 minutes, allowing MPs and opposition MPs to ask questions on national television to the concerning minister. It gives the chance for opposition MPs to scrutinise or embarrass the Gov. and allows for Gov. MPs to highlight the success of their party
e.g., Does the PM agree with his education secretary that he should be thanked for doing a good job - Kier Starmer about crumbling concrete in schools and halving their budget
State two criticisms of PMQs
It is highly choreographed with PMs spending Wednesday morning preparing for possible questions. A file nicknamed the Plastic Fantastic has many practiced answers for the PM
The Gov. set up fixed ‘Soft questions’ from their own backbenchers to support their policies. This wastes time in PMQs and is designed to highlight the success of Gov.
What is Debate/how do they scrutinise and state an example
Adjournment Debates - gives MPs the opportunity to raise particular constituency issues
Emergency Debate - called in times of crisis, e.g., 2021 Crisis in Afghanistan
Early Day Motion - used to call for a Commons debate on a specific issue, they don’t bring about legislation but highlight concerns and bring forward concerns of constituents
e.g., Labour MP - Karl Turner in May 2023, had deep concern over taxpayers fund, the legal bill of the rt. honourable member for Uxbridge
What are Backbenchers/how do they scrutinise and state an example
Backbenchers play a key role in scrutiny and are becoming more successful in this era of divided parties
By acting together backbenchers can defeat Gov. legislation and create a huge embarrassment for the Executive
e.g., 2019, backbenchers over Brexit in the Gov, the Lords ended up delaying the bill till the UK leaves the EU
What is the House of Lords/how do they scrutinise and state an example
The Lords have the power to delay a bill for a year, this alone can set back Gov. agenda and would make the Gov. compromise with the Lords - most acts have passed due to the fact that the Lords are specialists in their respective areas and is more difficult with the Gov. to argue with
e.g., Higher Education Bill in 2012, to streamline the regulation of university and other educational bodies in the wake of the increase of intuition fees
Definition of The opposition
The largest party in the House of Commons that is not in Government
Definition of opposition
The parties, MPs and peers who are not members of the governing party or parties
What is a vote of no confidence and give an example
It is a vote in which MPs from all parties decide whether or not they want the Gov. to continue. It has the power to trigger a general election and could see a new PM appointed
If the Gov. loses, they have 14 days to win back the confidence of MPs through another vote
e.g., Labour minority Gov. fell in 1979 and was replaced by Margaret Thatcher’a Conservatives at the general election which followed
What are Departmental Select Committees/how do they scrutinise and state an example
There are 19 Departmental Select Committees which concern themselves with a specific area of Gov. responsibility
- They investigate the work of Gov. departments to determine whether they have acted efficiently/effectively
- They consider major departmental policies and determine whether they are well considered and have taken account of public opinion
e.g.,
What are Public Bill Committees/how do they scrutinise and state an example
There are 6 main Public Bill Committees in which they scrutinise the Gov. legislation and make amendments to it
e.g., Delegated legislation committees
