Where are the Committees?
Just back from holiday, and I see that the new Parliament is taking a long time setting up its Select Committees. According to this BBC report concerns are being voiced about why this should be so.
The comments are to a degree predictable but do contain valid criticism of the Select Committee system. The Government through the Leader of the House can ensure that they are not set up for some time in a new Parliament. This means a gap in Ministers having to answer to them. For example, the Home Secretary should be tested on the new estimates for the cost of ID cards by the Home Affairs Select Committee but this may not happen for months now.
There is also a serious problem with the way in which Chairs are allocated. Ian Gibson MP was a good Chair of the Science and Technology Committee in the last Parliament but was a ‘rebel’ on many key votes. If he is dumped in favour of an ex-minister looking for a job then this will demonstrate the Committee system being used for the benefit of Government rather than Parliament.
The appointment of Select Committee Chairs does not have the same news value as a Ministerial reshuffle but it will give a good indication as to the relative powers of Government and Parliament over the next few years.