Effectiveness Of Parliamentary Representatives In Holding The Government To Account

Question 1

Question Time

Answer 1

PMs can usually guess what questions will be asked and have someone else prepare the answers for them

Over 2022/23 the conservative PMs (Johnson, Truss and Sunak) would’ve expected questions about the public sector strikes. This limits the effectiveness as the government can prepare in advance and spin their answer to use it against the other politicians/parties

QT only lasts 30 mins which isn’t long enough and is also in a very rowdy atmosphere therefore it’s not effective as no proper answers can be given

Question 2

Debates

Answer 2

Debate attendance can be low unless a debate is whipped but the chances are the governing party will turn out to support their own policies

There are ‘Opposition Days’ where other parties get to set the agenda but the attendance on these is also low.

Question 3

Committees

Answer 3

Part of the Legislative Process and involves 15-20 MPs looking at legislation line by line

Committees funding is low, they can’t properly scrutinise the work of government as they can’t conduct full and thorough investigations

They have little power and aren’t often taken on board

Question 4

House of Lords

Answer 4

We have a bi-cameral parliament

Lords from the governing party are more likely to speak out against the government

Lords look at laws with national interest and don’t have to think about their own career progression