work of committees

• what are select committees?

  small groups of MPs or members of the HOL that are set up to investigate a specific issue in detail
• what are public bill committees?

  in the HOC the committee stage of Public Bills is usually carried out by a committee of MPs who can take advice from the public
• what are HOL committees?

  they investigate public policy, proposed laws and government activity
• give an argument to support the idea that committees are effective

  • committees provide scrutiny that isn’t just shouting. they aim for a consensus rather than competition
• give an argument to support the idea that committees are effective

  many committee chairs are from opposition parties
• give an argument to support the idea that committees are effective

  recommendations are often acted on
• give an argument to support the idea that committees are effective

  chairs and members are elected by secret ballot -> reducing the power of the whips and encouraging the election of independently minded peers
• give an argument to support the idea that committees are effective

  composition of members and chairs encourages cross party cooperation
• give an argument to support the idea that committees are effective

  influence from government, shadow cabinet or party whips on the selection of committee chairs/members is limited
• give an argument to suggest that committees are not effective

  • they’re becoming more high profile
• give an argument to suggest that committees are not effective

  • there’s some evidence that chairs avoid topics that they know are highly politicised and likely to provoke partisanship
• give an argument to suggest that committees are not effective

  • governing party almost always has a majority
• give an argument to suggest that committees are not effective

  • growing media presence isn’t an indicator of influence or importance
• give an argument to suggest that committees are not effective

  • whips control membership of Public Bill committees
• give an argument to suggest that committees are not effective

  • they produce a report but the government doesn’t have to act on it
• give an argument to suggest that committees are effective

  • 30-40% of recommendations end up as gov. policy