Scrutinising the Executive

• Who introduced Prime minister’s Question Time?

  Harold Macmillan
• How many questions is the Leader of the official opposition allowed to ask during PMQs?


  6
• Who informs the PM about potential topics during PMQs?

  Chief whip
• What can backbenchers do if their question is not selected?


  Try catch the speaker’s eye 'bobbing'
• Example of an MP who tried to ‘catch the speaker’s eye’ recently 


  Diane Abbot (46 times)
• Backbenchers of the governing party may ask planted questions as a way to get the message of success across
• Who introduced select committees?

  Thatcher
• Why were select committees introduced?


  Thatcher wanted to enhance Parliament’s ability to scrutinise the government
• What are select committees?

  Small group of Backbench MPs that scrutinise the policies , administration and activities (e.g. spending) of government departments
• Select committees devote significant time to investigate specific issues
• How many MPs are in a select committee?

  11 backbench MPs
• Select committees can investigate issues in much more depth than possible in the chamber of the House of Commons. They produce detailed reports for consideration by the Government.
• Select committees work across party lines and often in a bi-partisan manner. This gives Select Committees more legitimacy than the partisan politics that normally takes place in the chamber
• How are chairs of select committees selected?

  Elected by MPs
• Select committees can call in officials and experts for questioning. They can also demand information from government
• The findings of select committees are published and the government is expected to respond to any recommendations
• What is the difference between a select committee and a standing committee?

  Standing committees only scrutinise legislation and bills (not activities)
• Questions to ministers can be oral or written. If written, a minister must respond to it
• MPs with questions submit their names to the speaker in advance
• Ministers need to be well briefed on the topics likely to arise, especially if relevant issue has arisen in the news in recent days
• What are debates?

  Discussions in Parliament and is a method of putting views across as well as opening the government to criticism
• During debates, if a legislation has not been well thought through or lack of planning is evident in a government proposal, an exchange on the floor of the Commons or the Lords can make this plain for all to see
• Emergency debates can be held at the discretion of who?


  The Speaker of the House
• A record of emergency debates happened under which speaker?

  John Bercow
• What is an Opposition Day?


  A day in which the parliamentary agenda is controlled by the Opposition parties
• How many days are given to the Official Opposition?

  17
• How many days are given to the second biggest opposition party?

  3
• Opposition need to given notice of their intention to use an opposition day
• What is a Liason Committee?

  It is made up of Select Committee Chairs and considered the overall work of select committees, promotes effective scrutiny of Government and chooses committee report for debates
• How many times does the Liason Committee question the Prime Minister about policy?


  3 times a year
• In early July 2022, when Boris Johnson was being questioned by the Liason Committee, 62 ministers resigned during it.
• Example of a chair of a Liason committee 


  Dr Sarah Wollaston (chair of the healthcare committee)
• Why are PMQ not an effective way of scrutinising the executive?


  Seen as more theatre than politics. There is also generally very little time allowed in PMQs meaning it is difficult to address and discuss all issues
• How many questions does the leader of the opposition get during PMQs?


  6
• What are the main features of Questions to Ministers?

  -Departments take turns to answer parliamentary questions in a 4 week cycle

  -Question time takes place Monday to Thursday for 1 hour each day

  -Questions are submitted to the speaker in advance
• Urgent questions are a mechanism to ensure ministers make important public statements to the Commons first, not directly to the media
• An example of an urgent question would be one from a Labour shadow cabinet member who tabled an urgent question on February 10th 2022 on the potential sanctions that might be placed on Russia if they invaded Ukraine
• What are the 3 types of debates?


  Legislative debates (2nd and 3rd reading)

  Emergency debates at the discretion of the Speaker

  Adjournment debates
• What are adjournment debates?

  Debates held at the end of a sitting day in the House of Commons. It allows for debates/general discussions without having to come to a decision. A response form a minister will be given. There is usually low attendance
• Example of an adjournment debate that has happened annually

  Jesse Philips on the violence against women in the lead up to international women’s day