Committees are vital to the running of both Houses and are made up of around 10 to 50 MPs or Lords from a mix of parties. Much of the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords takes place in committees, as they can focus on specific issues and scrutinise government work. While there is a variety of different types of committees, the main purpose of a committee is to examine a topic in detail, from government policy and proposed new laws, to wider topics like the economy and defence.
Largely, the two main types of committee are a Select Committee and a General Committee.
Select Committees work in both Houses, but in the Commons, these committees focus on examining the work of the government. There is a Commons Select Committee for each government department, examining three aspects – spending, policies, and administration. Commons Select Committees also carry out inquiries into various topics, gathering both written and oral evidence, before reporting to the Commons and requiring a response from the Government.
General Committees are appointed on a routine basis to consider proposed legislation in detail. This committee system allows faster processing of bills and is unique to the House of Commons. For instance, a committee is generally appointed for each Public Bill which goes through the Commons and will be made up of a cross-party group of MPs which reflects the political make up of the House.
Below are the committees I have been involved in or are currently involved in. At present, I am an active member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. For more information about the work of committees, head to the UK Parliament website.
General / Public Bill Committees
- Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill Committee (2020)
- Pension Schemes Bill (Lords) Committee (2020)
Select Committees
- Procedure Select Committee (2019 – 2020)
The Procedure Committee considers the practice and procedure of the House in the conduct of its public business. It can make recommendations to the House about the operation of the House’s Standing Orders for public business, and any other aspect of House procedure and practice.
- Welsh Affairs Select Committee (2019 - )
To read more about my work on this Committee, head to the side bar.
Last updated - 20/04/21
