APPENDIX 3 Core Tasks for Select Committees:
Guidance from the Liaison Committee
Introduction
1. At its meeting on 23 April, the Liaison Sub-Committee
supported the creation of a list of indicative Core Tasks, principally
for departmental select committees (DSCs). Following consultation
at clerk level, a set of ten core tasks for DSCs has been grouped
under four principal objectives (see Annex 1). The first three
objectives spring from Standing Order No. 152 under which departmental
select committees are established.
Core Tasks: A Template For The Annual Report
2. Each committee is free to decide how best it should
carry out its remit from the House. But the Liaison Committee
is agreed that DSCs should act with due regard to the expressed
view of the House on 14 May (see Annex 2), and commends to DSCs
these objectives and core tasks. It will expect them to be reflected
in the format of the annual report from each DSC, as indicated
in Annex 3.
Duties of Ministers And Their Departments
3. The Liaison Committee also considers that there
are duties falling on Ministers and Departments as a result of
its adoption of these objectives and associated tasks. These are
listed in relation to each task.
Use by Other Committees
4. The Liaison Committee hopes that other select
committees will also reflect on how far these objectives and tasks
could be applied to make their work more systematic and comprehensive.
Liaison Committee
20 June 2002
ANNEX 1
Departmental Select Committee Objectives
And Tasks: An Illustrative Template
OBJECTIVE A: TO EXAMINE AND COMMENT ON THE POLICY
OF THE DEPARTMENT
Task 1: To examine
policy proposals from the UK Government and the European Commission
in Green Papers, White Papers, draft Guidance etc, and to inquire
further where the Committee considers it appropriate
This calls for more systematic scrutiny of proposals
made. It is not intended to involve formal written or oral evidence
as a matter of course, but to ensure that a Committee is at least
apprised of proposals and has the opportunity to consider whether
detailed scrutiny of them should form part of their programme
of work.
Departments must ensure that Committees are informed
directly of policy proposals and provided with the necessary documentation,
rather than waiting to be asked.
* * * * * * * * * *
Task 2: To identify
and examine areas of emerging policy, or where existing policy
is deficient, and make proposals
This calls for Committees to identify areas where,
based on judgement of Members, views of others etc, a Committee
inquiry would be worthwhile.
Ministers must be prepared to give proper consideration
to policy proposals from committees. This may involve revision
of the practice on instant reaction/rebuttal.
* * * * * * * * * *
Task 3: To conduct scrutiny of any published
draft bill within the Committee's responsibilities
This calls for Committees to commit time for necessary
oral evidence and reporting, subject to its timetable for
other inquiries.
Ministers must ensure that committees are warned
early on the likely appearance of draft bills: must consult with
committee chairmen on how they are to be handled: and must allow
a decent time for committee consideration.
* * * * * * * * * *
Task 4: To examine specific output from the
department expressed in documents or other decisions
This calls for a formal framework for being informed
of secondary legislation, circulars and guidance, treaties and
previously identified casework decisions, so that they can if
needed be drawn to a Committee's attention.
Departments will have to engage in co-operative
discussions with committee staff on the best means of ensuring
that committees are kept abreast of such outputs.
* * * * * * * * * *
OBJECTIVE B : TO EXAMINE THE EXPENDITURE OF THE DEPARTMENT
Task 5: To examine
the expenditure plans and out-turn of the department, its
agencies and principal NDPBs
This calls for a systematic framework for committee
scrutiny of the Department's Main and Supplementary Estimates:
its expenditure plans; and its annual accounts.
Departments will as a matter of course have to
produce more explanatory material on financial matters, eg on
Supplementary Estimates, underspends etc
* * * * * * * * * *
OBJECTIVE C : TO EXAMINE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
DEPARTMENT
Task 6: To examine the department's Public
Service Agreements, the associated targets and the statistical
measurements employed, and report if appropriate
This calls for an established cycle of written scrutiny
and annual reporting of results.
Ministers must be prepared to be genuinely responsive
to committee concerns on PSAs etc
* * * * * * * * * *
Task 7: To monitor the work of the department's
Executive Agencies, NDPBs, regulators and other associated public
bodies
This calls for a systematic cycle of scrutiny of
annual reports. It does not require either written or oral evidence
except where a Committee judges it to be necessary.
The bodies concerned must ensure that their accountability
to Parliament is recognised by full and regular provision of information,
including annual reports and other publications.
* * * * * * * * * *
Task 8: To scrutinise major appointments
made by the department
This would call for scrutiny of all major appointments
made.
Departments would have to systematically notify
committees in advance of all major appointments pending and/or
made.
* * * * * * * * * *
Task 9: To examine
the implementation of legislation and major policy initiatives
This would call for a framework of detailed annual
progress reports from departments on Acts and major policy initiatives
so that committees could decide whether to undertake inquiry
Ministers must be more willing to provide for
annual reports on particular pieces of legislation, and departments
to provide detailed annual reports on identified policy areas
or initiatives.
OBJECTIVE D: TO ASSIST THE HOUSE IN DEBATE AND DECISION
Task 10: To produce
Reports which are suitable for debate in the House, including
Westminster Hall, or debating committees.
This could call for committees to come to an explicit
view when deciding on an inquiry as to whether a debate was in
due course envisaged.
* * * * * * * * * *
ANNEX 2
Extract from the Votes and Proceedings:
14th May 2002
Resolved, That this House
approves the First Report of the Select Committee on Modernisation
of the House of Commons relating to Select Committees, House of
Commons Paper No. 224-I, and in particular welcomes its commitment
to more specialist and support staff for select committees; is
of the view that the package as a whole will strengthen the scrutiny
role of the House; and invites the Liaison Committee to establish
common objectives for select committees, taking into account the
illustrative model set out in paragraph 34 of that report, namely:
- to consider major policy initiatives
- to consider the Government's response to major
emerging issues
- to propose changes where evidence persuades
the Committee that present policy requires amendment
- to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of draft
bills
- to examine and report on main Estimates, annual
expenditure plans and annual resource accounts
- to monitor performance against targets in
the public service agreements
- to take evidence from each Minister at least
annually
- to take evidence from independent regulators
and inspectorates
- to consider the reports of Executive Agencies
- to consider, and if appropriate report on,
major appointments by a Secretary of State or other senior ministers
- to examine treaties within their subject areas.
ANNEX 3
ANNUAL REPORTS
From these model/illustrative objectives, the following
headings will be used in the template for annual reports to the
Liaison Committee:
Tasks 1 and 2 and 4 and 7 to 9 : Identification
of inquiries carried out into (a) Government policy proposals
(b) areas seen by the Committee as requiring examination because
of deficiencies (c) departmental actions (d) associated public
bodies (e) major appointments (f) implementation of legislation
and major policy initiatives
Task 3: examination of any draft legislation
Task 5: examination of expenditure
Task 6: examination of PSAs
All tasks: extent to which systematic structure
is in place for meeting the indicative tasks listed, and response
of department
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