Scrutiny

Question 1

Give 4 ways parliament scrutinises the executive

Answer 1

1. PMQs
2. Select committees
3. HOL
4. Backbenchers
5. The Opposition

Question 2

Give 4 positives of PMQs

Answer 2

1. Allows the opposition to scrutinise parliament
2. It is an opportunity for the public to understand politics
3. Backbench can ask Qs
4. MPs can ask constiunecy Qs

Question 3

Give 4 negatives of PMQs

Answer 3

1. Most questions are designed for partisan point scoring rather than change opinions or policies
2. The PM doesn’t always directly answer the question
3. Used more to embarrass the prime minister than to actually find facts
4. Most people only hear the highlights on TV - thus only hearing the witty response’s - which incentives debaters to just make sound bites

Question 4

Give 6 reasons why select committees are effective

Answer 4

1. Many committee chairs are from opposition party, meaning they have no pre-exusiting bias and will be able to properly scrutinise the executive without bias
2. They operate in a less party political manner than much of the Commons and aim for consensus and not competition between different parties
3. Chairs and committee members are now elected by secret ballot reducing the power of party whips and encouraging the election of more independently minded chairs
4. Recommendations are often acted upon by the government and therefore influence policy e.g. OBR was formed in 2010 following a select committee reccomendation
5. They have the ability to call witnesses including ministers and civil servants
6. What select committees request is usually provided e.g. George Osborne gave a lot more information on the budget as was requested by select committees
7. Many committee members have either previous ministerial experience of specialist interest in certain policy area

Question 5

What is the name of the select committee that scrutinises fiscal policy

Answer 5

Public Accounts Committee - chaired by opposition backbencher Meg Hillier

Question 6

Give 4 reasons why select committees are not effective

Answer 6

1. The majority of members in select committees are in the governing parties, due to select committee membership being proportional to the number of seats in the commons
2. The government does not have to accept suggestions made by select committees
3. Party whips are in control of membership of PBCs
4. Ministers can be vague and evasive when being questioned by select committees

Question 7

Give an example of a select committe

Answer 7

Liaison Committee

Question 8

What does the Liaison Committee do?

Answer 8

They scrutinise the work of the Prime Minister specifically - generally meeting twice a year

Question 9

Who sits on the Liaison Committe?

Answer 9

The chairs of all of the other committees

Question 10

Who is the current chair of the Liaison Committee?

Answer 10

Sir Bernard Jenkin

Question 11

What is the 1922 Committee

Answer 11

A committee consisting of Conservative backbenchers formed to scrutinise the party leadership

Question 12

What powers does the 1922 Committee have?

Answer 12

The ability to call for a vote of no confidence in their leadership

Question 13

Give 3 examples of PM’s who have been removed from office due to the 1922 Committe?

Answer 13

1. Ian Duncan Smith (the first one)
2. Margaret Thatcher
3. Theresa May

Question 14

When was the 1922 Committee formed

Answer 14

April 1923

Question 15

Give an example of a recent change the 1922 Committee made

Answer 15

Changed the rules for the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, forcing potential candidates to have the support of at least 100 MPs, forcing every candidate by Rishi Sunak to drop out

Question 16

How do the Lords provide an effective form of scrutiny

Answer 16

• There are no time limits on their debates which allow them to analyse any potential government bills as thoroughly as they wish
• In the 2016-2017 session MPs spent 235 hours debating government Bills on the floor of the House
• In the 2016-2017 session Peers spent 407 hours debating Government Bills on the floor of the house
• Crossbenchers have expertise in specific policy areas

Question 17

Why might the Lords be seen to be not an effective from of scrutiny

Answer 17

• The government doesn’t have to accept any of their recommendations - and at most they can only delay the passage of a bill for a year
• Financial privilege ensures that the commons has total control over fiscal policy, and the Lords cannot even make suggestions

Question 18

Name 3 functions of the Opposition

Answer 18

1. Scrutinise Government policy
2. Suggest their own policy
3. Provide an alternative to the current government

Question 19

Name 3 powers of the Opposition

Answer 19

1. The leader of the opposition has special privileges e.g. additional salary, right to respond to PMQs with 6Qs and further questions, 20 days set aside specifically for Opposition agenda

Question 20

Give 4 limitations of the Opposition

Answer 20

1. Gladiatorial style politics - government and opposition, which reduces collaboration
2. The government has the support of the Civil Service, who offer departmental expertise
3. Limited opportunity to set the agenda - they can only choose the topic for 20 days - 17 to the official opposition
4. An opposition that has just lost an election has a weak mandate