Select committee (United Kingdom)

A select committee meeting in Portcullis House

In British politics, parliamentary select committees are cross-party groups of MPs or Lords which investigate specific issues or scrutinise the work of the Government of the United Kingdom.[1]

They can be appointed from the House of Commons, from the House of Lords, or as a joint committee of Parliament drawn from both. Committees may be as "sessional" committees – i.e. be near-permanent – or as "ad-hoc" committees with a specific deadline by which to complete their work, after which they cease to exist.

House of Commons select committees are generally responsible for overseeing the work of government departments and agencies, whereas Lords select committees look at general issues, such as the constitution or the economy. Select committees are also one of parliament's mechanisms for holding the private sector to account.[2]

Following the 2024 United Kingdom general election, most of the new chairs of the 26 select committees were elected in September 2024.[3]

Some English local authorities also have a select committee system, as part of their Overview and Scrutiny arrangements.

  1. ^ Marshall, Joe. "Select committees". Institute for Government. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  2. ^ Colvin, Scott (2019). How to Survive a Select Committee. Biteback Publishing. pp. xiv.
  3. ^ "Select committee Chair elections". UK Parliament. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.