Paper 2 · 2026 · 30 marks
Using the source, evaluate the view that committees in the House of Commons are highly effective.
Parliament
Source
Source 1(b) explores the effectiveness of the different types of committees in the House of Commons.
The case that committees are highly effective
Select committees undertake inquiries, publish reports and question government ministers. Since the Wright reforms, departmental select committees attract more independent-minded backbenchers, have built up worthwhile expertise and have a more effective cross-party spirit. The role of chair increasingly attracts serious ex-ministers and genuine experts who bring media attention. The Public Accounts Committee is very high profile, chaired by an opposition MP and holds the government to account for the effectiveness of public spending. Numerous committee recommendations are implemented by government, including many for major policy change.
The Backbench Business Committee gives opportunities to backbench MPs to raise awareness of issues and bring forward debates. The Liaison Committee plays a unique role in holding the PM to account. Unlike the adversarial and party-focused PMQs, the Liaison Committee is a better format for scrutinising a prime minister in detail.
The limits on committee effectiveness
The broad principle is that the balance of committee chairs and committee members should reflect the party balance in the House of Commons leaving the majority party with greater influence. Select committees only work effectively when they operate in a cross-party manner and as a result critical issues dividing the parties may not be examined as being 'too difficult'.
Select committees' powers to make witnesses appear and to tell the truth seem weak and unclear leading to gaps in accountability. The government is only required to respond to reports and does not have to accept their recommendations, especially if there is little media coverage.
The Liaison Committee has had gaps where the PM has not attended, it gets less media coverage than PMQs and, in 2019, the Chair was appointed by the PM rather than chosen by the committee, raising questions about the effectiveness of scrutiny. The Backbench Business Committee has limited impact due to the government control of the Commons timetable.