What Are Select Committees?

Select committees examine subjects by taking written and oral evidence, and after private deliberation, present a report to the House. It is only since 1979 that departmental select committees have been in operation. Non-departmental select committees include the Public Accounts Committee, the Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, and the select committee on European Legislation. The Public Accounts Committee checks government accounts, attempts to ensure that money has been spent in properly authorised ways, and assesses whether value for money is achieved. There are also non-departmental select committees which deal with the Houses internal affairs, such as the Select Committee on Standards in Public Life which was set up in 1995 to consider the recommendations of the Nolan Committee.

In terms of media coverage, select committees only really come into the public spotlight when the prime minister or another government minister is called to give evidence. They can often be subjected to a significant grilling by MPs of all parties.