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

MPs take evidence from Jeremy Heywood, Cabinet Secretary

Public Admistration Select Committee takes evidence

Committees A-Z

Select Committee publications

Inquiries A-Z

New Inquiries Date announced
Sports and exercise science and medicine: building on the Olympic legacy to improve the nation’s health 22.05.2012
Dog Control and Welfare 22.05.2012
St Martins seminar on the Rio+20 agenda 21.05.2012
The impact and effectiveness of ministerial reshuffles 18.05.2012
Moratorium on Desinewed Meat 15.05.2012

What's on

Thursday 24 May 2012

House of Commons

Main Chamber

Time Business
10:30am Oral Questions

Business, Innovation and Skills, including Topical Questions
Business Statement

Leader of the House
Statement

Feed-in-tariffs
Motion

Whitsun recess adjournment
Adjournment - Mr Gerry Sutcliffe

Disappearance of Mr Illias Ali

Westminster Hall

Time Business
2:30pm - 5:30pm

Operation of the Family Courts

General Committee

Time Business
8:55am - Room 11, Palace of Westminster Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee

Draft Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
9:00am - Room 10, Palace of Westminster Finance Bill Committee

to consider the Bill

Select Committee

Time Business
9:30am - Room 15 Public Administration

Work of the Cabinet Secretary 2012-13 - Sir Jeremy Heywood, KCB, CVO, Cabinet Secretary

House of Lords

Main Chamber

Time Business
11:00am Oral Questions - Lord Alton of Liverpool

Securing the arrest of Joseph Kony, Omar al-Bashir and others indicted by the International Criminal Court
Oral Questions - Lord Storey

Development of entrepreneurship opportunities for young people in the UK
Oral Questions - Lord Campbell-Savours

Effect on the European economy and financial institutions of the crisis in the euro area
Oral Questions - Lord Roberts of Llandudno

Government of Iran's use of capital punishment against homosexual men
Short Debate - Lord Bilimoria

The contribution made by minority ethnic and religious communities to the cultural life and economy of the UK
Short Debate - Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer

The Government’s policies on food security
Short Debate - Baroness Kramer

Alternatives to high street banks for small and micro-business borrowing

Grand Committee

Select Committee

Time Business
10:00am - Room 2A, Palace of Westminster External Affairs (EU Sub-Committee C)

Private meeting

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