The Committee System

Question 1

What are the four types of Committees?

Answer 1

• Liason Committee
• Backbench Affairs Committees
• Select Committees
• Legislative Committees

Question 2

What are Departmental Select Committees?

Answer 2

• Permanent committees
• Mirror government departments
• Look at expenditure and administration
• Consider major policy initiatives
• Governments response to major issues
• Take evidence from each minister annually

Question 3

What is a Liason Committee?

Answer 3

• They hear evidence from the PM on matters of public policy
• Blair said it was ‘extremely tough’
• 3 times a year
• Johnson avoided it 3 times in 2019

Question 4

What are Backbench Committees?

Answer 4

• Chair comes from the opposition
• Control 35 parliamentary days to debate issues of their choosing
• Days allocated on short notice

Question 5

What is a Legislative Committee?

Answer 5

• Created every time a bill goes through parliament
• Scrutinise bills and propose amendments
• Government has a majority

Question 6

What occurred due to Wright reforms?

Answer 6

• Chair of each committee is now paid and elected by the whole house
• More independent as members no longer selected by leaders
• Members are expected to be non-partisan
• 40% of reports acted upon by government