select committees and opposition

Question 1

what is a select committee?

Answer 1

a cross party groups of MPs or Lords given a specific remit to investigate and report back to the House that set it up

Question 2

how do select committees work?

Answer 2

parttaking backbench MPs collect evidence and data and then use that to question the government

Question 3

how did select committees help the windrush scandal of 2018?

Answer 3

Home affairs SC issued a report saying that the hostile environment policies were ‘unclear’ and too many people were threatened with deportation

Question 4

what was the windrush scandal 2018

Answer 4

immigrants that came to UK pre 1971 - documents were destroyed so were threatened with deportation in 2018

Question 5

Amber Rudd resignation

Answer 5

Home Secretary at the time of the Windrush scandal. She lied to public and resigned due to individual ministerial responsibility

Question 6

windrush scandal effects

Answer 6

Home office set up Windrush compensation scheme

Question 7

test and trace app covid

Answer 7

37bn pounds used to make the app - public accounts committee thought this was too much
some specialists being paid 6600pounds a day - embarassing

Question 8

wright reforms 2010

Answer 8

made select committee heads need to be elected by secret ballot in HoC

Question 9

George Osborne example of SC effectiveness

Answer 9

was questioned on the budget in 2010 by select committee, pushed to provide more detail and amend it - former chancellor

Question 10

effective examples of opposition

Answer 10

• privileges in debates and QT to help it carry out business
• opposition chooses subjects for debate
• criticises and embarassed the government

Question 11

examples of strong party opposition

Answer 11

• Blair in 1992-1997 - highlighted weakness
• Cameron 2005-2010

Question 12

non effective examples of opposition

Answer 12

• sometimes success affected by uncontrollable factors, such as size
• weak opposition cannot well scrutinise the government
• parties with large majorities can ignore the opposition

Question 13

example for effective opposition recently

Answer 13

Rwanda scheme - Lab against it , new home sec for Tories, Cleverly, is steering away from it

Question 14

why is influence from opposition limited?

Answer 14

• if majority in HoC, parliament is sovereign so don’t have to listen to them
• party cannot change its views to align with overnemnt incase party gets divided