How Effective Are Parliamentary Select Committees?

Select committees do have distinct weaknesses. When dealing with ministers, a committee can do little more than request information. While ordinary witnesses can be required to attend and give evidence, MP's and peers can refuse to testify. Also, the number of reports debated by the House remains small as linkage with the Commons has proved difficult. Some committee members are not good questioners and fail to pursue consistent lines of inquiry. Committees have no formal sanctions they can employ in relation to the government.  

But committees enjoy a good attendance record by members and have engaged in questioning ministers, civil servants and members of outside bodies. Also, they have been prolific in issuing reports, they have achieved a much higher level in media attention than their predecessors and have acted as magnets for outside groups. Overall, ' the system has proved itself a valuable and cost effective addition to the House's ability to perform its proper function of holding ministers to account' (from 1990 Select Committee on procedure).