The effectiveness and influence of the select committee system Contents

---

Contents

Summary

1 Introduction

2 The work of committees

The core tasks

Background

Too many or too few?

Holding those with power and authority to account

The future of EU scrutiny

Public engagement: listening as well as broadcasting

The way forward

Maximising impact

Planning and priorities

Government responses

Working in partnership

Accountability

A feedback loop to the House

Opportunities for debates on committee activities

Question time for select committee chairs

A talking or a working Parliament

Annual reports

Values and behaviours

Conclusion

3 Select committees and the UK’s future relationship with the European Union

Introduction

Current impact of the EU-UK relationship on select committees

Future tasks for select committees

Future relationship negotiations

Scrutiny of the Joint Committee

Monitoring EU law and policy

The Scrutiny Reserve

UK-EU relations

Scrutiny by departmental select committees

Scrutiny of the development of common frameworks

New treaties

Future approaches

Factors and principles

Committee structures

Resources

Information provision

Conclusion

4 Evidence, engagement and research

Introduction

Inputting into inquiry topics

Formal “evidence”

Written evidence—format

Oral evidence

Public engagement: listening to those with lived-experience

Introduction

Enhancing current practice

Other outputs

Digital engagement

Deliberative public engagement

Future research and development

Research evidence

Evidence checks

Research centres and syntheses of evidence

Diversity in research evidence

Working with the charitable sector

Funding for research

A centre for public evidence?

Conclusion

5 Powers, privileges and contempts

Introduction

Persons, papers and records

The problem

Options

Conclusions on penal powers

Papers

Publishing unconventional material and the Parliamentary Papers Act 1840

Pre-appointment hearings

Power of committees to work together

Conclusion

6 Communicating our work

Introduction

Reports

Focus and timing

Accessibility and dissemination

Publication

Online presence

The website

Social media

Photography in committee rooms

Ongoing campaigning and communications

The impact and accessibility of the language of scrutiny

Conclusion

7 Chairs and Members

Introduction

Elected chairs and members

Background

Impact of elections

Membership

Eligibility

Gender balance

Speed of nomination

Members’ attendance

Background

The ‘60 per cent’ rule

Parental leave

Other causes of long term and recurrent absence

Delays in replacing committee Members

Conclusion

8 The role of the Liaison Committee

Introduction

Prime Minister sessions

The role of the Liaison Committee

Cross-cutting work

A co-ordinating role?

Sector, thematic, or locality reviews

Resources for scrutiny

Process of establishing the Liaison Committee

Our name

A champion for the select committee system

9 Conclusion

Annex 1: Role of EU law and policy in the UK in different phases of EU exit

Annex 2: Standing Order changes

Appendix 1: UK Parliament, Behaviour Code

Conclusions and recommendations

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament

---

Published: 9 September 2019