the work of select committees 2.4

Question 1

what do select committees do

Answer 1

scrutinise the policy, administration and spending of each government department.

Question 2

what does the ‘Public Accounts Committee’ do

Answer 2

examines government expenditure, seeking to ensure that value for money is being obtained.

Question 3

what does the ‘Liaison Committee’ do

Answer 3

chairs of all the select committees, questions the prime minister twice a year across the whole field of government policy.

Question 4

what does the ‘Committee on Standards’ do

Answer 4

oversees the work of the parliamentary commissioner on standards, an official who is in charge of regulating MPs’ conduct, including their financial affairs.

Question 5

what is the minimum requirement for backbenchers and what usually are their political affliations

Answer 5

11 - can come from all parties
E.G. Education Select Committee | 2015
- 5 Con
- 4 Lab
- 1 SNP.

Question 6

how are chairs elected for select committees

Answer 6

reform in 2010
- chairs elected by their fellow MPs rather than
chosen by the party whips (increased independence)
- Members are chosen by secret ballot within party groups.

Question 7

how do select committees gather evidence for their investigations

Answer 7

written and oral evidence
summon witnesses including:
- ministers
- civil servants
- experts
- members of the public with a relevant interest.
- appoint specialist advisers (possibly academic in the field they are investigating) to assist them in their work

Question 8

how does the select committee ask for government to answer to their investigation

Answer 8

produce a report = government is expected to respond within two months.

Question 9

what are the four reasons as to why the work of select committees is respected

Answer 9

• its evidence based
• scope of the committees’ work has widened
• expertise
• direct influence on government policy.

Question 10

why is ‘its evidence based’ a reason as to why select committees are respected

Answer 10

• hearings are televised and reported in the media, which increases their influence.
• They air issues of public interest.

Question 11

why is ‘scope of the committees’ work has widened’ a reason as to why select committees are respected

Answer 11

• hold pre-appointment hearings, in which they interview candidates for some public roles.
• scrutinise government legislation

Question 12

why is ‘expertise’ a reason as to why select committees are respected

Answer 12

• Long-serving members can accumulate more knowledge of a particular policy area than a minister, who may stay in a government department for only two or three years.

Question 13

what are the four reasons as to why the work of select committees is not as respected anymore

Answer 13

• majority of select-committee members will be drawn from the governing party
• committees can cover only a limited range of topics in depth = haven’t got the time to go into depth as well
  high turnover rate & MPs do not attend regularly.
• government accepts an estimated 40 per cent of select-committee recommendations = rarely involve major changes of policy.
• Committees’ power to summon witnesses is considerable but not unlimited.

Question 14

why is the HOL select committees more respected

Answer 14

• do not shadow government departments = scrutinise legislation and investigate particular issues
• link. Lords committees can draw on the services of a range of well-qualified experts in different fields.