Committees

Question 1

Point

Answer 1

Some argue that parliamentary representatives can successfully hold government to account through their work in committees.

Question 2

Explain 1

Answer 2

Committees are small groups of representatives that examine important issues, review legislation, and question government ministers. Some investigate government failures, exposing weaknesses. Ministers must attend and answer in-depth questions. In the UK Parliament, committees consist of cross-party MPs and Lords assigned specific roles or issues. They allow members to develop expertise, leading to more thorough scrutiny. To ensure effectiveness, only backbenchers can sit on committees.

Question 3

Example 1

Answer 3

For example, Yvette Coop of the Home Affair committee, through her questioning, exposed that the government didn’t know how many people were coming into the UK with coronavirus.

Question 4

Analysis 1

Answer 4

This highlights failures in pandemic response. This scrutiny pressures the government to address policy gaps, ensuring transparency and accountability. It also allows Parliament, the media, and the public to challenge decisions, promoting better governance.

Question 5

Rebuttal

Answer 5

However, the ability of committees to effectively hold government to account is limited.

Question 6

Explain 2

Answer 6

Committees can struggle to hold the government to account because they lack the power to enforce recommendations, and the government is not required to act on their findings. Ministers may also avoid giving full answers or delay responses, undermining scrutiny. Furthermore, committees often mirror the government’s majority in Parliament, making it difficult for opposition MPs to challenge policies effectively. While media attention can boost their influence, without enforcement powers, their impact remains limited.

Question 7

Example 2

Answer 7

Statistics show that the government delayed the publication of a report into Russian interference in the UK elections until after the 2019 election to avoid embarrassment.

Question 8

Analysis 2

Answer 8

This shows that, despite the Intelligence and Security Committee’s efforts, the government controlled when the report was released, avoiding scrutiny at a crucial time. It highlights how committees lack enforcement powers, as they cannot force the government to act quickly or prevent it from withholding sensitive information for political reasons. Consequently, while committees can investigate and expose issues, their effectiveness is limited when the government decides to ignore or delay their findings.

Question 9

Link

Answer 9

Overall, Committees can expose government failures and pressure for accountability, but their effectiveness is limited by lack of enforcement powers, government delays, and political influence, as seen with the delayed Russia report, undermining their ability to ensure meaningful scrutiny.