Select Committees Flashcards
1
Q
The function of the Public Accounts Committee
A
- Formed in 1961 - oldest select committee.
- Examines the economy and public finances to ensure efficiency - questioning the government’s public policy to see if tax payers get value for their money.
- Can call witnesses - ministers, civil servants, and representatives of interested bodies and field experts. It rose to greater prominence in recent years as it can call senior civil servant to witness.
2
Q
The effectiveness of the Public Accounts Committee
A
- The Chair is a member of the opposition party.
- MPs elect the chair and the members.
- Acts independently of government allegiance, leading to unanimous decisions - no advantage for the government despite the majority of the party are members.
- Holds the government accountable - determined to publicise major issues.
- Has a high media profile - many crucial hearings broadcast as headlines and forces govt response.
3
Q
The function of the Departamental Select Committee
A
- Formed in 1979.
- Cross-party groups of MPs of 17 committees scrutinise governmental departments.
- Calls witnesses = ministers, civil servants and outside witnesses (pressure group representatives and experts).
- Extended work to consider matters of public interest - shows its effectiveness.
- Investigations happen in the hope and expectation that the Govt will consider new legislation to deal with any revealed problems.
4
Q
The effectiveness of the Departamental Select Committees
A
- MPs elect the members from the whole house.
- Committee selects the chair (any party) - leads to potential bias - but small parties have a scattering of members.
- Governing party has a majority on each committee.
- Considered a vital way parliament can hold the government and other public bodies accountable - integral part of policy marketing and review.
- Presents its reports and recommendations to the whole of Commons - receives considerable publicity.
5
Q
The functions of the Liason Committee
A
- Formed in 2002.
- Consists of chairs of the departmental select committees and other committees.
- Besides overseeing the work of the Commons SC - main function is to hold the PM accountable, so they must appear twice a year.
6
Q
The effectiveness of the Liason Committee
A
- Twice a year is seen as little time to properly hold the PM accountable.
- Considered a disappointment until 2016 - Conservative Andrew Tyrie became chair - decided the conduct of the UK forces in Syria and drone usage should be scrutinised more effectively than how the Commons did.
- Rishi Sunak = economic issues, migrants arriving on small boat and Windsor framework.
- Boris Johnson = Ukraine and the cost of living.
- With a fragmented opposition and a small governmental majority, it will have a greater impact.
7
Q
The function of the Backbench Business Committee
A
- Formed in 2010 as part of the Wright Reforms.
- Determines what issues should be debated on the one day a week allocated to backbench issues.
- Prior to 2010, the govt and the main opposition partially controlled most of the parliamentary agenda - a major departure giving up the single day.
Subject matter comes from various sources:
- E-Petition: if reached 100,000 signatures.
- Initative of one of the select committees.
- Request of a single or group of MPs.
- National and local campaigns.
8
Q
The effectiveness of the Backbench Business Committee
A
- Members consist of elected backbench MPs.
- In the 2014-2015 parliamentary sessions, debates consisted of International Women’s Day, humane slaughter of animals for food, improving cancer care, and the future of BBC and Harvey’s Law.
- E-Petitions = ordering publications of documents related to the Hillsborough Disaster. The signatures triggered parliamentary debate, releasing previously secret papers that resulted into a new inquest and inquiry.
9
Q
Explain Harvey’s Law as an example of BBC
A
Called for police to treat killings of dogs by a car accident more seriously.
