select committee

Question 1

What is a select committee?

Answer 1

They have enhanced political scrutiny
They are tasked to scrutinise the executives policy and decision making enabling expert contributions
they specialise in a particular department i.e foreign affairs

Question 2

What are the 10 core tasks of select committee?

Answer 2

European scrutiny
Bills and delegated legislature
draft bills
policy
support for the house
appointments
post legislative scrutiny
strategy
expenditure and performance
public engagement

Question 3

How do select committee’s function?

Answer 3

they have 11 MP’s or peers who gain wider evidence

They then question and scrutinise civil servants and those in ministerial positions with their own expertise

Question 4

Give an example of select committees

Answer 4

foreign affairs select committee
Education select committee
defence select committee

Question 5

Give an example of select committee inquiry

Answer 5

The health and social care committee inquiry in 2011 helped look into problems concerning the reformation of the NHS under Cameron’s government. They also helped make changes to the health and social care act of 2011

Question 6

Are select committee members useful in scrutinising the executive?

Answer 6

• they cannot make policy so they may be ignored
• if a government has a majority in the commons, they are likely to have a majority in the committee’s
• those who hold ministerial power and civil servants may not give information or data
• they are useful in the sense that they help scrutinise government policy and hold the government accountable
• their recommendations are usually followed up by the government
• they question civil servants and those in ministerial power and can ask for access to government papers