Parliamentary Committees

Question 1

How do Select Committees have a significant role to play in challenging the executive?

Answer 1

They scrutinise government policy, shadowing the work of major government departments. They do this by carrying out inquiries, writing reports, carrying out question and answer sessions (through which they can call witnesses, including government ministers), and ask to see government papers.

Question 2

How is the role of Select Committees restricted?

Answer 2

. The government has a majority on the committees, reflecting their Commons majority, so can dominate them (although the chairs of select committees are elected by Parliament as a whole).
. Whips control individual appointments to the committees, meaning loyal MPs can be placed on them.
. Select committees can criticise government policy, but cannot change it.