house of lords select committees
TRANSCRIPT
© House of Lords 2015
Ayeesha WallerClerk of the Economic Affairs Committee
25 April 2016
UK Parliament select committees: what they do and why they need you
House of Lords Select Committees
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Characteristics of Lords committees
“Cross-cutting” rather than departmental
Complement the Commons
Distinctive style
Consensual
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Membership (unelected)
Usually 12 Members on
each committee
General political balance (4 Lab, 4 Cons, 2 X-B and 2
LD). No Government
majorityAbout 170 Members currently involved –
rotation rule = 3 sessions
Selected by Committee of Selection, on
nomination of Chief Whips and Convenor
of the Crossbenchers
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Economic Affairs Committee• Remit: to consider economic affairs.
• Inquiries on broad topics: the Economics of the UK Housing Market.
• Inquiries on narrower issues: The Economic Case for HS2
• Evidence sessions with individuals– Mark Carney – Bank of England Governor– George Osborne – Chancellor of the
Exchequer
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Holding Government to account?
“The Economic Affairs Committee, which treads fearlessly in controversial areas, is a bright spot in our political darkness.”
“simply the most brutal political assault against a current piece of legislation that I have seen. As political contributions go this is the equivalent of a Glasgow kiss wrapped in ermine.”
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How can you engage with House of Lords Committees?
Submit written
evidenceGive oral evidence
Outreach service events
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Written evidence
• Relevant to the inquiry
• Concise
• But not too concise.
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Written evidence
I support the right to buy.
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Written evidence
• Original– Not published elsewhere– New angle on the issue– Personal experience
• On time
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Examples of public engagement with Lords select committees• HIV and AIDS in the UK Committee (2010-11)• Adoption Legislation Committee (2012-13)• Draft Deregulation Bill Committee (2013)• Mental Capacity Act 2005 Committee (2013-14)• Equality Act 2010 and Disability Committee
(2015-16)• Social Mobility Committee (2015-16)• Science and Technology Committee (sessional)• Joint Committee on Human Rights (sessional)• Communications Committee (sessional)
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Finding out more about select committees
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/lordscommitteebulletin/
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How to find out more
Talk to committee staff
Go and see a committee sitting, or watch a webcast
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