House of Commons

Question 1

Select committee

Answer 1

Part of the house of commons which scrutinize specific departments, e.g. transport, education, environment

Question 2

Ways in which the House of Commons can scrutinize government

Answer 2

-Committee system
-Opposition Days, 40 in a year, where the shadow cabinet can decide the discussions in parliament and scrutinize legislation
-Questions to ministers
-Prime Ministers’ Questions

Question 3

Committee System sections

Answer 3

Departmental Select Committees
Liaison Committee
Public Accounts Committee

Each committee reflects the make-up of the House of Commons, so more than half of MPs on the committee will be of the governing party

Question 4

Liaison Committee

Answer 4

-Meets twice a year
-Purpose is to question the Prime Minister, proper interrogation for hours
-Made up of chairs of all select committees
-The Prime Minister must have a breadth of knowledge across all areas. Judges the competence of a PM

Question 5

Liaison Committee limitations

Answer 5

-They can’t force the PM to attend, Boris Johnson got out of it twice
-However, it can damage the image of a Prime Minister if they don’t attend
-Doesn’t lead anywhere, no sanctions, no report
-It’s only twice per year

Question 6

Public Accounts Committee

Answer 6

-Chair is always from the opposition party
-Scrutinizes government spending and taxation
-Ability to call any witnesses
-Reports are always unanimous, means that the report has come from all political parties
-Doesn’t adhere to party politics
-Most recommendations are implemented by government, e.g. Investigations into Off-shore tax which allowed Amazon and Google to avoid tax led to a change in law which made it harder, if a company provides a service in the UK, their tax office has to be in the UK
-Meets every week

Question 7

Public Accounts Committee limitations

Answer 7

-Recommendations in Reports are not binding, however if they are not, it will be brought up in parliament continuously

Question 8

Departmental Select Committees

Answer 8

-Chair isn’t always from the opposition
-Make-up of the committee reflects the makeup of the house of commons, however a limited number of MPs in select committees means that smaller parties such as Reform and Greens are not represented, narrower range of perspective.
-Not all MPs sit on select committees

Question 9

Public Bill Committees

Answer 9

-Scrutinizes legislation before theyre implemented, not government.
-Includes the whole house which scrutinizes a specific bill.
-Ad hoc.
-Led by the Speaker

Question 10

Committee system since 2010

Answer 10

Wasn’t as strong before 2010, chairperson for each committee was selected by the party whip based on their government loyalty.
-Wright Reforms allowed the whole House to elect Chairperson, less party politics involved, however this causes centrist voices to be encouraged
-Improves scrutiny of government.

Question 11

Committees Increased Prominence between 2010-2015

Answer 11

The Public Accounts Committee was especially effective in this period, dissatisfaction with the coalition government
-Senior civil servants called as witnesses
-Very proactive work by Margaret Hodge
-Committees are more effective if the government is unpopular

Question 12

Votes of no-confidence