Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Second Report


3 The way we work

27. In our last Annual Report we commented on the innovative ways in which we had sought to conduct oversight of our broad remit. That innovative work has continued during 2003. Thus, for example, we have set up Sub-committees to consider ten subjects; and we have continued to ensure that different Members have had the opportunity to chair Sub-committees, as the Table below shows.

Table 11: Subjects examined, number of meetings, and chairmen of Sub-committees, 2003
SubjectNumber of meetings Chairman
Countryside and Rights of Way Act1 Paddy Tipping MP
Rural Payments Agency1 Paddy Tipping MP
Badgers and Bovine TB2 Mr David Drew MP
Delivery of Education in Rural Areas3 Diana Organ MP
Rural Broadband4Mr David Borrow MP
Poultry Farming in the UK3 David Taylor MP
New Covent Garden Market2 Mr Michael Jack MP
Vets and Veterinary Services3 Mr Michael Jack MP
Cetacean By-Catch3Ms Candy Atherton MP
Environmental Directives4 Paddy Tipping MP

28. Last year we also reported that we had chosen to appoint a rapporteur to conduct a follow up inquiry into the reform and future ownership of Horticulture Research International.[34] Our decision followed recommendations made by the Modernisation and Liaison Committees about the use of rapporteurs.[35] We consider that although using a rapporteur raises questions, particularly about the demands it places on staff resources, our experience was a successful one. We intend to make further use of the procedure in future.

29. At the time of our last Annual Report we were also in the process of undertaking an experiment in the use of electronic equipment such as laptop computers and palmtops in public evidence sessions. We successfully concluded our trial by Easter 2003, and made a report to the Liaison Committee. It subsequently agreed that Members and staff of all Committees should be able to make use of electronic devices during evidence sessions.

30. We also commented on the use we had made of the new Scrutiny Unit, set up in the Committee Office in November 2002. During 2003 the Unit provided briefing and other material relating to our inquiries into the Rural Payments Agency, the Delivery of Education in Rural Areas, the Departmental Annual Report, and the Ofwat Annual Report. Staff of the Unit also advised the Clerk of our Committee about Supplementary Estimates produced during the year, and about Defra's proposal to alter the way in which its Estimate is presented. We continue to be strongly supportive of the work of the Scrutiny Unit, which complements the work of our own staff.

Committee 'away day'

31. An innovation planned for 2004 is to hold an 'away day' at which we will review our past activities and plan our future inquiries. We intend to hold the event in February, hearing from observers well-placed to talk about Defra and its associated public bodies, to . examine critically the way in which we have worked in the past and then to plan our future programme. The meeting will take place away from the Palace of Westminster, but in London, in order to help us improve our plans for departmental scrutiny.

Media coverage

32. Media coverage of our work helps to inform stakeholders, and also adds to the impact of our reports. During 2003 we have aimed to increase the coverage we get. A particular step we have taken has been to issue all of our reports in advance under embargo, allowing reporters to write pieces for publication on the day the report is issued. We have also issued a press notice with most of our reports, setting out the key points. As a result we have enjoyed extensive coverage, in both the specialist and general media. Our reports into Gangmasters and Vets and Veterinary Services were particularly widely covered.


34   The report which followed was Horticulture Research International, HC (2002-03) 873 Back

35   HC (2001-02) 224-I, para.34; HC (2001-02) 692, para.18 Back


 
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Prepared 21 January 2004