Committees

A large part of the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords takes place in committees, made up of MPs or Lords. These committees consider policy issues, scrutinise the work and expenditure of the government, and examine proposals for primary and secondary legislation. Select committees (see below) operate largely by an investigative process, while legislative committees operate mainly by debate.

Select Committee news

Transport Committee warns ministers that spending must be fairly allocated across nation

MPs publish short report examining spending pledges made by the Department for Transport in 2011–12

Committees A-Z

Select Committee publications

Inquiries A-Z

New Inquiries Date announced
Superfast broadband 14.02.2012
Stamp Prices and Network Transformation 10.02.2012
Future Maritime Surveillance 09.02.2012
Independent review of the FSA's report into the failure of RBS 08.02.2012
Pre-Appointment Hearing for Director of the Office for Fair Access 03.02.2012

What's on

Thursday 23 February 2012

House of Commons

Main Chamber

Time Business
10:30am Oral Questions

Transport, including Topical Questions, Women and Equalities
Business Statement

Leader of the House
Motion

(i) Relating to the Draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012 (ii) Draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012 (iii) Draft Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2012
Adjournment - Nick de Bois

Motor insurance fraud and the death of Rickey Burlton

Westminster Hall

Time Business
2:30pm - 5:30pm

Cycling

General Committee

Time Business
Financial Services Bill Committee

to consider the Bill
9:30am - The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House Civil Aviation Bill Committee

to consider the Bill

Select Committee

Time Business
10:00am - Room 4a, Palace of Westminster Liaison

Select Committee powers and effectiveness - Rt Hon Peter Riddell, Institute for Government; Professor Robert Hazell CBE and Dr Meg Russell, Constitution Unit, UCL; Professor Matthew Flinders, Department of Politics, The University of Sheffield; Dr Ruth Fox, Hansard Society
3:00pm - Room 15, Palace of Westminster European Scrutiny

Reinforcing the eurozone - Rt Hon David Lidington MP, Minister for Europe and officials, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

House of Lords

Select Committee publications

Related information

Select committees

Both Houses establish select committees to conduct inquiries and to produce reports on a range of matters, from the conduct of Government to specialist subject areas. Information on their work can be found on the select committee page.

Legislative committees

Both Houses refer legislation to committees for detailed discussion and approval. These committees are part of the process of making laws and include public bill committees, delegated legislation committees and committees on private bills. There is more in Bills and Legislation.

Other committees

Some other committees are established either by statute of either House, with a range of specific functions. These committees can be found through Committees A-Z.

Guides to committees

The About Parliament section of our site provides information on the types of Parliamentary committees and their work.

Select Committees Film

This short film explains the role and impact of select committees, their membership, how they conduct inquiries, what it's like to be a witness and how you can get involved.

Independent review of the incident at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee

List of recommendations in the independent review of the incident at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 19 July 2011, together with progress report on implementation as at 17 October 2011

List of recommendations in the independent review