select committees

ETV that Select committees hold the gov accountable in the house of commons.

Select committees

Select committees

a group of MPs or house of lords members that investigates and scrutinises government work and other public organisations in the public interest.

Round 1 point:

They offer valuable scrutiny of gov departments. This is important because it keeps their power in check.

Evidence: following the wright reforms of 2009/11 - chairs are now elected by secret ballots which enhances their independence from party influence.

Round 1 counter: limitations

Departmental select committees can only make non-binding recommendations to which the government only accept 40% of and most of them align with government policies.

Round 2 point:

They investigate government actions and they can do this by summoning witnesses and gathering evidence to hold them accountable.

Evidence: seen in the Health, Science, and Technology Select Committee's inquiry into the COVID-19 response, where revelations by Dominic Cummings led to increased scrutiny and calls for a public inquiry.

Round 2 counter:

Their power to convince witnesses to appear is vague and weak which leads to instances where the government officials avoid scrutiny.

Evidence: Home Secretary Theresa May blocked the Home Affairs Select Committee from interviewing the head of MI5 in 2013. 

Round 3 point:

Select committees are formed by members from multiple different parties which helps ensure scrutiny is far and not dominated by a single party’s perspective.

Evidence: the public accounts committee is renowned for its non partisan approach chaired by Dame meg hiller a senior labour MP.

Round 3 counter:

can still be subject to partisan bias and political influence which can undermine their effectiveness at holding the gov to account.

Evidence: European scrutiny committee who got accused of partisan bias. They were accused of being overly supportive of the gov’s approach to brexit negotiations as majority of them were in the conservative party.