Select committees and contempts: clarifying and strengthening powers to call for persons, papers and records Contents

Annex 1: Committee and House summons for witnesses to attend committees (2001–2021)

Committee and House Orders/Summons papers or witnesses to attend committees 2001–2021

Committee/type of Order

Date and details

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (2021)

On 3 March 2021 the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee summoned William Shawcross, former UK Special Representative on UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism to attend the Committee on 24 March 2021. He attended and gave evidence.

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (current) (2018)

Orders for witnesses

Order for papers

On 10 May 2018, the DCMS Committee ordered Alexander Nix, former CEO of Cambridge Analytica, to attend and give evidence in connection with its inquiry into Fake News. Mr Nix attended and gave evidence on 6 June.

On 10 May 2018, The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee ordered Dominic Cummings, campaign director for Vote Leave, to attend and give evidence on 22 May 2018 in connection with its inquiry into Fake News. Mr Cummings failed to attend and on 5 June the Committee published a report stating it would seek an Order of the House for Mr Cummings to attend. On 7 June 2018 the House ordered that Mr Dominic Cummings give an undertaking to the Committee, no later than 6pm on 11 June 2018, to appear before that Committee at a time on or before 20 June 2018. He failed to do so.

On 16 April 2018, the DCMS Committee issued an Order for papers from Dr Emma Briant at the University of Essex under the Fake News inquiry. The order was complied with.

Treasury Committee (current) (2018)

Order for papers

On 7 February 2018, The Treasury Committee ordered the Financial Conduct Authority to produce a specific report regarding the treatment of customers in RBS’s Global Restructuring Group which it had previously been unwilling to provide. The document was received and subsequently published by the Committee.

Treasury Committee (2016)

Order for witness

On 3 May 2016, The Treasury Committee ordered the attendance of Matthew Elliott, Chief Executive Vote Leave. He attended and gave evidence on 7 June 2016.

Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (2016)

Order for witness

On 15 March 2016, the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee ordered the attendance of Mike Ashley, owner of Sports Direct. Mr Ashley appeared before the Committee.

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (2014)

Order for witness

In two separate instances, the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee issued orders for attendance, in connection with its ‘On the Runs’ inquiry. The Committee ordered Tony Blair, former Prime Minister, to attend on 10 December 2014. He attended and gave evidence on 13 January 2015. On 7 January 2015 the Committee ordered Mark Sweeney and Simon Case of the Northern Ireland Office to attend. They attended and gave evidence on 19 January.

Home Affairs Committee (2014)

Order for witness

On 28 October 2014, the Home Affairs Committee ordered the attendance of Sir Paul Kennedy, Interception of Communications Commissioner. He attended and gave evidence on 4 November.

Home Affairs Committee (2014)

Order for witness

On 25 February 2014, the Home Affairs Committee ordered the attendance of Sir Mike Walker, Intelligence Services Commissioner. He attended and gave evidence on 18 March.

Public Accounts Committee (2011)

Order for witness

On 9 November 2011, the Committee of Public Accounts ordered the attendance of Dame Helen Ghosh, former Head of the Rural Payments Agency. She attended and gave evidence on 14 November.

Culture, Media and Sport Committee (2011)

Order for witness

On 14 July 2011 the Culture, Media and Sport Committee ordered the attendance of Rupert Murdoch, Chair and CEO of News Corporation and his son James Murdoch, Chair and CEO of News Corporation International. Both Rupert and James Murdoch attended and gave evidence on 19 July.

Public Accounts Committee (2011)

Order for witness

On 11 July 2011, the Committee of Public Accounts ordered the attendance of Sir Ian Kennedy, then chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. He attended and gave evidence on 13 July.

Welsh Affairs Committee (2009)

Order for witness

On 24 November 2009, the Welsh Affairs Committee ordered the attendance of Edwina Hart, Welsh Assembly Government Health Minister. She attended and gave evidence on 15 December.




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