Departmental Select Committees In Westminster Parliament
Arguably, Parliament’s most vital role is to review and challenge the policy work of the Government. This can be performed through an array of tools such as Prime Minister’s Questions, Debates and Committees. This essay will examine each form of scrutiny in the Westminster parliament and evaluate their effectiveness. Scrutiny ensures that policies that need parliamentary approval are being reviewed and debated upon in both of the Houses of Parliament, House of Commons and House of Lords (Dorey, 2014). Committees made up of MPs can also scrutinise Government legislation either before or after the bill has been enacted. (Dorey, 2014). It is important for Parliament to hold the Government to account to limit its power and prevent one party from
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There is a Commons Select Committee for each government department, examining three aspects: spending, policies and administration (parliament.uk). These committees operate in both chambers of parliament and were not established until the late 20th century. Scrutiny in Westminster went up a level in 1979 with the establishment of Departmental Select Committees (George & Morgan). These committees have a minimum of 11 members and they cover, in-depth analysis of particular departments of the government (Norton, 2007). These Committees also have power to appoint specialist advisers. They are often academics, and are appointed to assist with particular inquiries of the committee. This, in theory, would increase the expertise of the committee members, allowing for more effective scrutiny of the department area. Since 1979, the number of Departmental select committees has fluctuated (Norton, 2007). In 1994 for instance, pressure from the Ulster Unionist party led to the creation of a Northern Ireland Select Committee (ibid). Party loyalty and the Whipping system may mean than bills are not being scrutinized to Westminster’s full potential. Many members just toe the line and vote on bills based on blind loyalty as opposed to voting based on the evidence that their committee has presented. However, committees are made up of MPs from both the Government and the opposition and their membership
reflects the party balance as a whole. The majority of each committee will be MPs from the governing party however members of the opposition parties are included meaning the Government and its policies can be challenged
There is a Commons Select Committee for each government department, examining three aspects: spending, policies and administration (parliament.uk). These committees operate in both chambers of parliament and were not established until the late 20th century. Scrutiny in Westminster went up a level in 1979 with the establishment of Departmental Select Committees (George & Morgan). These committees have a minimum of 11 members and they cover, in-depth analysis of particular departments of the government (Norton, 2007). These Committees also have power to appoint specialist advisers. They are often academics, and are appointed to assist with particular inquiries of the committee. This, in theory, would increase the expertise of the committee members, allowing for more effective scrutiny of the department area. Since 1979, the number of Departmental select committees has fluctuated (Norton, 2007). In 1994 for instance, pressure from the Ulster Unionist party led to the creation of a Northern Ireland Select Committee (ibid). Party loyalty and the Whipping system may mean than bills are not being scrutinized to Westminster’s full potential. Many members just toe the line and vote on bills based on blind loyalty as opposed to voting based on the evidence that their committee has presented. However, committees are made up of MPs from both the Government and the opposition and their membership
reflects the party balance as a whole. The majority of each committee will be MPs from the governing party however members of the opposition parties are included meaning the Government and its policies can be challenged