select commitees

Question 1

what are they?

Answer 1

-usually consists of 11 members who are from across all different parties, that are set up to investigate a specific issue.

Question 2

Function of SC

Answer 2

-Produce detailed reports which summarise their findings and make recommendations to which the govt are required to respond to within 60 days.

Question 3

memberships

Answer 3

*Wright Reforms 2010- made SC more effective as they are autonomous (free) + independent of govt.
*members aren’t elected by whips= autonomous and free to criticise.
*members work together across party lines- bipartisan–> work= greater impact.
AO2 LIMITATIONS:
*SC’s reflect party balance govt= large majority=less critical voices in SC- limits their ability to scrutinise.

Question 4

Chairs

Answer 4

*heads of SC-are allocated to parties according to their relative strength.
-since 2010 select committee chairs are elected by all MPs.
AO2 STRENGTHS:
+Chairs are elected in a cross-party secret ballot
+Key committees always chaired by an opposition mp- greater independence, often have expertise in that field e.g Jeremy Hunt as chair of Health 2020-22.
AO2 LIMITATIONS:
-Jeremy Hunt can be seen as ‘marking his own homework’ after being secretary of state for health for 6 years.

Question 5

Expertise

Answer 5

*Can become more expert in their chosen field than relevant ministers.
AO2 STRENGHTS:
+Longevity—> expertise in their areas more than relevant ministers- increasing popular career option, an alternative to seeking promotion to govt, attracts experienced backbenchers.
+Access to outside experts to inform reports
AO2 LIMITATIONS:
-No suitability test e.g Tory MP philip davies was elected to the equalities committee, but is also an anti-feminist.
-No training- questioning style may prove to be ineffective e.g too weak or too aggressive-> failing to probe.

Question 6

Powers

Answer 6

*Members aim to strike comprimises across party lines
-between 2015-2016 departmental SC produced almost 100 reports.
AO2 STRENGHTS:
+Can look into greater depth than in parliamentary questions–> sustained questioning= able to uncover mistakes + hold ministers accountable for their actions. e.g Nick Buckles, chief executive of security company G4S, described the security at 2012 olympics as ‘a humiliating shambles’ after lengthy questioning from home affairs sc.
+Raising media attention= puts pressure on govt
+Write reports+ recommendations- govt must respond within 60 days, 40% of recommendations from SC’s are accepted.
+Forces govt to release papers.
+Can summon witnesses
+Hold hearings over appointments.
AO2 LIMITATIONS:
-Witnesses can’t be forced to attend e,g Mark Zuckerburg refused to attend- it won’t necessarily give insights to answers.
-Govt doesn’t have to accept their recommendations, the majority of them go ignored.
-Can’t veto appointments.

Question 7

EVALUATION AO3

Answer 7

-Can use their expertise to scrutinise govt
-Provide detailed recommendations which are accessible to the public= completely transparent + open.
-If ministers fail to provide satisfactory answers it could lead to serious consequences for their reputation and career e.g Amber Rudd 2018- denied knowledge that the home office had set migrant removal targets, which contrasted w/ previous evidence provided in a former statement head by the SC.
-However, they cannot force govt to implement their suggestions, they can only advise them through recommendations.

Question 8

Public Accounts committee

Answer 8

-Examines public finances + value for money of all govt spending including collection of tax, delivery of public services.
-Most influential
Strengths:
+Chair is always a member of main opposition party
+Members elected by all MPs + tend to act independently
+Often unanimous, boosts authority
+High media profile
+Witnesses are obliged to attend.
Effectiveness
-NHS National Program for IT brought to light as ‘colossal failure’

Question 9

Backbench business committee created 2010

Answer 9

+Widens democracy (e-petitions) + ability of parliament to represent constituents/ interest groups e.g 2011 e-Petition lead to debate on Hillsborough= forced govt to release papers + led to new inquest–> police chief put on trial.
-Only one day but with lots to debate
-Backbench debates rarely impact govt decisions.

Question 10

Liaison committee created 2002

Answer 10

-Chairs of all Departmental SC’s + others
-Calls PM to account twice a year.
Strengths:
+Can combine questioning across departments, using expertise gained.
+More sustained than PMQS- pms dont like it
+Media interests
+Particularly useful when it comes to cross-departmental issues e.g brexit
-Largely ineffectual+ under-reported.
-Too big, 35 members
-Pms can avoid attending- May and Johnson both delayed numerous of times.