To What Extent Can Parliament Hold The Government To Account

Question 1

PMQs

Answer 1

PMQs is every Wednesday, MPs ask one question opposing party leader asks 6, PM vaguely answers questions, planted questions, significant media attention, For example in 2017 the government ended a 55p-a-minute charge on a helpline for welfare claimants a week the issue was raised at PMQs.

Question 2

Voting and debating on the commons

Answer 2

First last the post usually means a majority government paired with the whip system they very rarely lose votes, in the past 4 years the government has had a majority of over 50 and only lost 4. Whip system, going against the whips, PM does not need these votes to act on certain matters because of royal perogative. When keir stamer said any frontbencher MP who votes for the ceasefire in Israel and Palestine will be pushed back to backbench. 8 MPs resigned.

Question 3

Select committees

Answer 3

Examine work of a government department, example Home Secretary admitted that the government had failed to control the issue of migrants crossing the English Channel and promised to fix the problem after a select committee meeting. They get evidence and write performance reports, make recommendations to change a policy they must respond to, don’t need to act on the recommendations.

Question 4

Private members bill

Answer 4

PMB is a bill introduced by a backbench MPs, which provides them with an opportunity to raise matters of importance to their constituents and issues being ignored by govt. In addition, some PMBs are unsuccessful at gaining Royal Assent but are still successful at putting pressure on the govt. to act. However most PMBs are unsuccessful as they are given less priority than govt. bills so often lack time to proceed through the legislative process - only 13 days are given to debating and voting on PMBs.