Review of House of Lords investigative and scrutiny committee activity in 2023–24
Chapter 1: Introduction
Introduction
1.This was a busy and productive year for House of Lords committees. As this report sets out, Committees were highly active in scrutinising the activities of government and contributing to the development of public policy and legislation. They shaped and contributed to major public debates, and worked in an open way to engage with a vast range of individuals and organisations, giving them the opportunity to contribute their expertise and experience to policy and legislative scrutiny and development.
2.This report reviews the year’s work across the three major types of activity: first, the investigative policy committees, which examine and report on a wide range of subjects within their respective remits. Second, the special inquiry committees, which are established by the House to review and make recommendations about a particular topic. Third, the scrutiny committees which support the House’s vital role in the scrutiny of legislation.
3.Figure 1 lists the committee structure as of March 2024. During 2023/24, 297 Members of the House contributed as committee members. Figure 2 sets out the key statistics on committee work over the past year. The Liaison Committee records its thanks to all Members who have devoted their time and expertise to this vital area of the House’s work.
Figure 1: Investigative and scrutiny committees as of March 2024
Figure 2: Committee statistics
Committee Chairs’ Forum
4.In 2023/24 the Committee Chairs’ Forum met three times, discussing committee communications and engagement activities, restoration and renewal, committee room upgrades and staffing. The Forum also continues to offer an opportunity for Chairs to provide updates on committee work and share experience and best practice.
Liaison Committee
5.The Liaison Committee has continued its work in resourcing and supporting the work of House of Lords committees. In December 2023, the Committee finalised the annual selection of the special inquiry committees to take place in 2024, selecting Food, Diet and Obesity; the Modern Slavery Act 2015; Statutory Inquiries; and Preterm Birth. The committees started work at the end of January and (with a break during the dissolution of Parliament for the 2024 general election) are expected to conclude their inquiries by the end of November. Their work will be covered in next year’s review.
6.The Committee also recommended a new sessional committee, the Financial Services Regulation Committee, which scrutinises financial services regulatory consultations, and financial services regulation more generally.1 This Committee was established in response to the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 which provide for select committee scrutiny of financial services consultations. An update on the Committee’s work can be found below in paragraphs 49–52.
7.The Committee has continued its special inquiry committee follow-up work which is set out later in the review.
Committee staffing
8.Lords select committees are supported by a range of staff teams including the Communications, Facilities, Broadcasting, Digital, Security and Hansard teams. Core committee support is provided by the 92 staff in the Committee Office.
9.The Committee Office continues to review and develop its work to support Committees. In September 2023, it appointed its first Head of Policy Research to provide professional leadership and coordination of policy analysis and research conducted by Committee Office staff. Priorities for the role in the first two years include: developing induction and training tools for policy-focused committee staff; improving engagement with and supporting oversight of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); and supporting policy analysis and research links with the Libraries of both Houses, the House of Commons Select Committee Team, and the House of Commons Policy Research and Analysis Community.
1 Liaison Committee, A committee on financial services regulation (6th Report, Session 2022–23, HL Paper 267)