w The ways in which parliament interacts with the executive

Question 1

What is Parliamentary Privilege? Why is it important?

Answer 1

• Parliamentary Privilege is the freedom of speech granted to all Parliamentarians when in either House
• Protects them from claims of libel for comments made in Parliament.

Question 2

How can Backbench MPs hold the Government to account?

Answer 2

• Backbench MPs can hold government to account by presenting views of constituents to government, by questioning ministers in questioning sessions or urgent questions, Backbench Business Committee establish in 2010 to decide on the topic of debate
• Can rebel against the government also!

Question 3

How does the Backbench Business committee hold government to account?

Answer 3

• The Backbench Business Committee is a cross-party committee which is given a certain period of time in which they are permitted to control the activity of the HoC, such as the topic of debate

Question 4

How have the powers of Backbenchers been limited?

Answer 4

• The powers of Backbenchers have been limited due to the increased power of party whips, securing loyalty at votes
• This has reduced Backbench rebellions
• Furthermore, fear of having the whip removed has done this eg Neil Parish had the whip removed following watching porn in the commons
• Public Bill Committees are also whipped.

Question 5

When were Select Committees Introduced and what is their role?

Answer 5

• Select Committees were introduced in 1979 under Thatcher, with their role being to scrutinise the policy, administration, spending and actions of government departments

Question 6

What is the composition of a Select Committee like?

Answer 6

• Select Committees are made up of a minimum of 11 MPs, with the percentage of MPs from each party broadly representative of their makeup in the Commons

Question 7

Why are Select Committees important?

Answer 7

• Select Committees are important as they decide what areas of a department will be investigated, who to summon as witnesses and what evidence should be gathered
• They also scrutinise some legislation and experienced members can command major influence

Question 8

How has the importance of Select Committees been reduced?

Answer 8

• Many members of Committees are drawn from the governing party meaning they have a reduced incentive for scrutiny
• They cover a small range of topics and avoid long term investigations
• Members also don’t regularly attend.

Question 9

What percentage of Select Committee decisions are accepted by Government?

Answer 9

• Only 40% of Select Committee decisions are actually accepted by Government.

Question 10

What examples are there of Select Committees?

Answer 10

• Current Select Committees include the Home Affairs Select Committee, Public Accounts Committee and the Treasury Committee.

Question 11

How are Opposition Parties able to control the debate in the Commons?

Answer 11

• Opposition Parties are granted 20 days of debate in the Commons every year, with 17 of these days at the disposal of the Official Opposition.

Question 12

Why are Opposition Debates limited in their effectiveness and scrutiny of governments?

Answer 12

• Opposition Debates have little significance as any votes are symbolic, with no legally binding status on Government
• They do not lead to legislative change.

Question 13

What is ‘short money’?

Answer 13

• Short money is money paid by the government to the opposition parties to fund them, as well as to fund the Leader of the Opposition’s office for policy research

Question 14

What are the benefits of PMQs?

Answer 14

• PMQs attracts considerable press coverage, with the PM obliged to answer questions on a wide range of topics posed to them by MPs

Question 15

What criticisms are there of PMQs?

Answer 15

• PMQs is often seen as a media event only, with the atmosphere giving more information about the personality of the PM or the Leader of the Opposition rather than informing about government/opposition policy
• Can also be scripted and pre-planned in terms of questions

Question 16

How can ministerial questioning be seen as more effective than PMQs?

Answer 16

• Ministerial questioning can be seen as more effective as questions can be submitted prior to the session, meaning detailed answers can be given to questions and better answers given about government policy
• Also, reduced media focus increases quality of the debate.

Question 17

Summarise the roles of MPs.

Answer 17

• Debate/scrutinise/vote on legislation, listen to grievances/opinions of constituents, sit on Select Committees, sit on Public Bill Committees, debate national interests, research issues, represents issues/interests, HOLD GOVT/MINISTERS TO ACCOUNT.

Question 18

What successes are there of MPs fulfilling their roles?

Answer 18

• Strongly represent the interests of local areas through the constituency model, scrutinise the work of ministers and debate to hold actions of government to account, infrequently rebel against government to express opposition to a proposal.

Question 19

What failures are there of MPs fulfilling their roles?

Answer 19

• MPs often tend to vote on Party Lines and rarely defy whips, struggle to create legislation if on the backbenches, MPs frequently neglect attending debates, some neglect the views of their constituents.

Question 20

Evidence whips have limited significance

Answer 20

• Some rebel

- 2005 Labour Government was defeated that terrorist suspects could be held in custody for 90 days without charge

Question 21

4 notable government defeats in the commons ?

Answer 21

1. Shops bill 1986 (defeated by 14 votes)
2. Reform of Sunday trading laws 2016 (27 Conservatives rebelled)
3. Brexit bill (Passed against the government wishes by 4 votes)
4. EU withdrawal agreement 2018 (defeated by 230 - biggest defeat by a government ever and ended being defeated 3 times)

Question 22

Joint committee between the Lords and the Commons

Answer 22

• Joint committee on Human rights (reposts of free speech in universities and the wrongful detention and deportation of members of the Windrush generation

Question 23

Permanent lords committees

Answer 23

• Economic affairs committee, EU committee and constitution committee