2020: Select Committee Membership - A look at the new makeup of the Select Committees in the House of Commons - Dods Monitoring
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Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
2020: Select Committee
Membership
A look at the new makeup of the Select
Committees in the House of Commons
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Contents
• Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Defence
• Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Education
• Environmental Audit
• Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Foreign Affairs
• Health & Social Care
• Home Affairs
• Housing, Communities & Local Government
• International Development
• International Trade
• Justice
• Northern Ireland Affairs
• Public Accounts
• Public Administration & Constitutional Affairs
• Science & Technology
• Scottish Affairs
• Transport
• Treasury
• Welsh Affairs
• Women & Equalities
• Work & Pensions
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Overview
The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee examines the administration,
expenditure and policy for the BEIS Governmental department. Much like the department,
their scrutiny is widespread across business matters, energy and decarbonisation, regulation
and industrial growth. Rachel Reeves has chaired the Committee since July 2017 and has
been a popular figure in the role. She was appointed Chair of the Committee again in an un-
contested election.
It would be fair to suggest that the Committee has been an influential force within business
Chair: Rachel Reeves
and energy matters across Government policy in recent years. The Committee’s inquiries
have included those on failing business (Thomas Cook, the UK steel industry, Carillion) and
more policy focussed areas, such as the roll out of smart meters and Brexit and its implications for UK business.
Since the legislation of the Government’s net zero target, the Committee has worked on an increasing number of
decarbonisation inquiries, including smart meter roll out, clean growth strategy and carbon capture, usage and
storage (CCUS). Whilst it is unconfirmed which inquiries will be continued, with Reeves retaining chairmanship, it
is likely that incomplete inquiries would be continued. Green energy and post- Brexit competition is likely to take
a front seat of any new inquiries, if there are no large-scale changes to the machinery of Government.
Membership
• Rachel Reeves (Lab, Leeds West) (Chair)
• Alan Brown
• Richard Fuller
• Ms Nusrat Ghani,
• John Howell,
• Mark Jenkinson
• Peter Kyle
• Pat McFadden
• Anna McMorrin
• Mark Pawsey
• Alexander Stafford
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Overview
In the last Parliament, the DCMS Committee could make a legitimate claim to be the most
influential committee in the House of Commons. Chaired with enthusiasm by Conservative
MP Damien Collins, the Committee produced leading work on immersive and addictive tech-
nologies and online harms, helping to shape Government policy in these areas and more.
Collins was expected to easily win the chair once more, but, Julian Knight won a surprise
victory. Collins was particularly interested in digital and tech issues as chair, adopting a Chair: Julian Knight
slightly more back-seat role on topics that fit more traditionally into the “culture” brief. In
contrast, Knight has been extremely vocal on the role of the BBC, describing the licence fee as a “poll tax” and
saying Government needed to act as a “critical friend”.
Knight doesn’t mark a total break with Collins, however, having expressed his desire to see the DCMS Committee
calling in the bosses of internet providers and holding them to account for the failures in their services.
Membership
• Julian Knight (Con, Solihull) (Chair)
• Kevin Brennan
• Steve Brine
• Philip Davies
• Clive Efford
• Julie Elliott
• Damian Green
• Damian Hinds
• John Nicolson
• Jo Stevens
• Giles Watling
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Defence
Overview
The primary focus of the Defence Select Committee is procurement. In the last Parliament,
such inquiries covered contracts for mechanised infantry vehicles, F-35s and military homes.
The Committee has also investigated the domestic threat of drones, defence in the Strait of
Hormuz, and the UK’s response to hybrid threats.
Looking to this Parliament the UK’s nuclear deterrent may be subject to a Committee in-
quiry after a NAO report criticised the MoD for delays and huge cost over-runs at nuclear
sites. The UK’s relationship with security partners such as NATO and the Five Eyes may also
Chair: Tobias Ellwood
come under the spotlight as Brexit continues.
As chair in the last Parliament, Julian Lewis was particularly concerned about the risk Chinese telecoms giant
Huawei posed to the UK’s critical national infrastructure. He is an ardent opponent of letting the company invest
in UK CNI, choosing to question Theresa May on the matter in a Liaison Committee session. Boris Johnson’s sub-
sequent decision to allow the provider to invest in a limited capacity in 5G is likely to be scrutinised thoroughly
across Parliament, and this Committee is likely to play a significant role in that.
Lewis did not run to be chair again and is tipped to become chair of the Security and Intelligence Committee. His
replacement, forces reservist and former regular soldier Tobias Ellwood said it was a “huge privilege” to take on
the role “at such a critical time for UK security”.
He acknowledged “we are in a period of phenomenal global change, more widespread and profound than at any
time outside of world war”.
As chair, he would speak up “for our brave service personnel in scrutinising the Government's national security
strategy”. His statement also mentioned the rise of new threats in the international defence system and the de-
mand for “greater honesty” about the state of the British Armed Forces, the procurement process, readiness
and resilience.
Membership
• Tobias Ellwood (Con, Bournemouth East) (Chair)
• Stuart Anderson,
• Sarah Atherton
• Wayne David
• Richard Drax
• Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
• Mark Francois
• Martin Docherty-Hughes
• Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
• Gavin Robinson
• John Spellar
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Education
Overview
Under the respected stewardship of former Education Secretary, Robert Halfon, the Educa-
tion Select Committee proved influential in shaping debate over the course of the last Par-
liament. Halfon has been retained as Chair once more, and the Committee has plenty to
focus on this time out,
The committee will be eager to meet the new Secretary of State Gavin Williamson for the
first time and will likely grill him on the Government’s plans for the £3bn National Skills Chair: Robert Halfon
Fund. The Government’s T Level reforms may also come under scrutiny. The first wave set
to be launched in Autumn 2020, and the Level 3 review has unearthed disquiet from a range of stakeholders
concerning; employer awareness, university buy-in, and the potential impact on Applied General Qualifications.
With the roll-out taking place over three years, T-levels may represent a major focus for the committee over the
course of the parliament.
Given his continued position as Chair, Halfon is expected to resurrect some unfinished inquiries from the last
Parliament, including the examination of adult skills and lifelong learning, and the children’s social care work-
force. It will be also interesting to see whether last year’s one-off session on knife crime evolves into something
more substantive. Finally, it is unclear whether the Government will respond to the committee’s unanswered
report on special educational needs and disabilities. The new administration is under no parliamentary compul-
sion to do so, and moreover announced a “major review” into SEND funding and support in September last year.
Membership
• Robert Halfon (Chair)
• Fleur Anderson
• Apsana Begum
• Jonathan Gullis
• Tom Hunt
• Dr Caroline Johnson
• David Johnston
• Ian Mearns
• Lucy Powell
• David Simmonds
• Christian Wakeford
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Environment Audit
Overview
The Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) remit extends across government and consid-
ers the extent to which policies and programmes of government departments and non-
departmental bodies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development,
whilst auditing their performance against sustainable development and environmental pro-
tection target. It has been noted that the Committee receives extensive support from the
National Audit Office in its crucial role of holding the government to account.
Acknowledging previous Chair Mary Creagh’s impressive record, new Chair Philip Dunne
has acknowledged that he has a tough act to follow. He has specifically stated that, with Chair: Philip Dunn
the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow, he hopes the EAC can push the agenda “further and fast-
er” for the UK to lead the way internationally to commit to action on climate change.
With this is mind, the Committee may seek to reopen the Net zero government inquiry which closed due to the
December general election. With rumours of Departments closing or merging, given the Committee’s cross de-
partmental role, they may look to scrutinise any plans to understand how new departments will contribute to
environmental protection and sustainable development. Further to this, with the introduction of the Environ-
ment Bill and its commitment to set up the Office for Environmental Protection, along with embedding environ-
mental principles into future policy making, the Committee may wish to scrutinise these.
Membership
• Philip Dunne (Chair)
• Duncan Baker
• Feryal Clark
• Sir Christopher Chope
• Mr Robert Goodwill
• Ian Levy
• Marco Longhi
• Caroline Lucas
• Jerome Mayhew
• Kerry McCarthy
• John McNally
• Dr Matthew Offord
• Alex Sobel
• Shailesh Vara
• Claudia Webbe
• Nadia Whittome
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Environmental , Food and Rural Affairs
Overview
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee operates with the aim of examining the
expenditure, policy and administration of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra), along with any associated bodies. In the previous parliament the Committee,
under Neil Parish’s stewardship, was key in scrutinising landmark Bills to come before Parlia-
ment such as the Environment and Agriculture Bills.
The well-respected committee chair Parish, with a strong background in farming and rural
issues, has now been reinstated. Committee members will be keen to meet the new Secre- Chair: Neil Parish
tary of State to discuss their vision for the future of the Department, given the multiple im-
plications that Brexit will have.
Further to this, following the publication of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill, by Chris Loder on 5 February,
the Committee may look to carry out a short inquiry similar to those completed for the Agriculture and Environ-
ment Bills in the previous Parliament. There is increasing dialogue on issues of animal welfare that may fall un-
der the limelight given the government’s manifesto commitments, such as live exports of farm animals and ani-
mal sentience. Of course, with the Brexit Political Declaration outlining that both the EU and UK must ratify their
new fisheries agreement by 1 July 2020, the Committee may choose to investigate this matter further.
Membership
• Neil Parish (Chair)
• Geraint Davies
• Dave Doogan
• Rosie Duffield
• Mary Glindon
• Dr Neil Hudson
• Robbie Moore
• Sheryll Murray
• Toby Perkins
• Julian Sturdy
• Derek Thomas
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Foreign Affairs
Overview
The Foreign Affairs Committee is a long-established committee, focussing on the work of the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK’s foreign policy response, as well as the role
and work of other bodies associated with UK foreign policy, including: the British Council;
United Nations; NATO; the European Union; and the OECD.
In his tenure as Committee chair so far, Tom Tugendhat proved influential in boosting the
profile of the committee in both the media and Parliament, focussing on a range of issues
from the violence in Rakhine State to the growing tensions between the West and Iran.
Chair: Tom Tugendhat
Given Tugendhat’s re-election, the inquiry is likely to continue with its focus of ‘Global
Britain’ and the UK’s place in the world after the European Union. He recently penned an article with his German
counterpart Norbert Röttgen, calling for a post-Brexit “treaty of friendship” between their two nations and
greater cooperation over shared interests, including foreign policy.
Tugendhat said the Committee’s work would “shape the conversation around foreign policy at this crucial point
in our country’s history”. It is also very likely to play a key role in scrutinising any departmental changes that oc-
cur with regards to the FCO and Department for International Development.
Like his previous Defence colleague, Julian Lewis, Tugendhat takes a personal interest in Huawei’s involvement
in the UK’s 5G network, having asked an urgent question on the matter in January. One may assume that this
could inform a future inquiry, perhaps on the rise of China.
Membership
• Tom Tugendhat (Chair)
• Chris Bryant
• Chris Elmore
• Alicia Kearns
• Stewart Malcolm McDonald
• Ian Murray
• Andrew Rosindell
• Bob Seely
• Henry Smith
• Royston Smith
• Graham Stringer
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Health & Social Care
Overview
The Health and Social Care Committee has seen its influence dramatically increase over the
last Parliament, intervening on a number of high profile-cases. Most prominently, the Com-
mittee played a big role during the Orkambi crisis, helping to bring Vertex and NHS England
back to the negotiating table after talks broke down. The sensitive issue of Brexit and its
implications on the NHS workforce and medical supplies became and continues to be an
important issue that continues to hold significant public and political interest.
Chair: Jeremy Hunt
The committee undertook numerous inquiries which have helped shaped the narrative on
public health issues. For example, the “drugs policy: medical cannabis” was influential in changing the Govern-
ment’s approach to helping long-suffering children and families by liberalising the availability of medical canna-
bis.
Following the committee elections, Jeremy Hunt (Con, South West Surrey), who brandished his credentials as the
former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care won the vote. Commenting on his election, Hunt said that
"over nearly a decade in frontline politics, the NHS has always been my greatest political passion, and I am hon-
oured to have been elected Chair of the Health and Social Care Select Committee. I look forward to working with
my committee to provide a strong, independent voice that supports health and social care services in a very
pressured period."
Membership
• Jeremy Hunt (Chair)
• Paul Bristow
• Amy Callaghan
• Rosie Cooper
• Dr James Davies
• Dr Luke Evans
• James Murray
• Taiwo Owatemi
• Sarah Owen
• Dean Russell
• Laura Trott
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Home Affairs
Overview
Under the commanding leadership of Yvette Cooper, who has retained her chairmanship in
the recent election, the Home Affairs Committee was highly influential in the last Parlia-
ment. This theme is therefore set to continue.
The committee’s headline inquiries included the Home Office delivery of Brexit immigration
policy, in which the Committee raised serious questions about the department’s ability to
deliver proposed Brexit changes and criticised the continued uncertainty over the status of
EU nationals. This was followed by a damning report into the EU Settlement Scheme,
Chair: Yvette Cooper
which warned that the Government was risking a “repeat of the Windrush Scandal”.
Their reports forced the Government to offer greater clarity around EU citizens’ rights, and a commitment to
ensuring the lessons learned from the treatment of the Windrush generation are reflected in the registration
system. It is likely that this line of inquiry will continue in the 2020 Parliament as the Government’s post-Brexit
immigration policy takes shape. Other challenges around border security, national security and information-
sharing post-Brexit are also likely contenders for inquiries.
One can expect Cooper to bring back some unfinished inquiries from the last Parliament and she stated the com-
mittee would scrutinise Government work in critical areas including policing, immigration and security after her
reflection. With Johnson’s wide-ranging reforms to policing and criminal justice, questioning the Home Secretary
Priti Patel will be high on the agenda one the Committee is back up and running. As Amber Rudd found out, an
appearance before this Committee as a Secretary of State can be career-ending.
Membership
• Yvette Cooper (Chair)
• Janet Daby
• Dehenna Davidson
• Stephen Doughty
• Ruth Edwards
• Laura Farris
• Simon Fell
• Adam Holloway
• Tim Loughton
• Holly Lynch
• Stuart C McDonald
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Overview
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee monitors the policy, admin-
istration and spending of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as
well as other associated bodies, such as Homes England. The Committee has certainly been
vocal, raising many topical housing issues including homelessness, devolution, the private
rented sector and, most recently, leasehold reform and local government finance.
The work of the Committee is praised and cited by a range of stakeholders. This was the
case following the publication of their report on local government finances, which directed Chair: Clive Betts
much focus on the need to improve social care funding for local authorities. Recent work
from the Committee on leasehold reform has helped shape the debate on leasehold reform in the aftermath of
the Grenfell tower tragedy. The report successfully pressed the Government to act on leasehold, with the latest
Queen’s Speech confirming that it would reform unfair practices in the leasehold market and make it faster and
cheaper to sell a leasehold home.
Clive Betts has been the chair of the Committee since his election in June 2010. He won in the recent chair elec-
tions after running uncontested. With building safety and devolution on the agenda over the coming months, it
is likely that the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee will have a big role to play in holding
the executive to account.
Membership
• Clive Betts (Chair)
• Bob Blackman
• Ian Byrne
• Brendan Clarke-Smith
• Ben Everitt
• Paul Holmes
• Rachel Hopkins
• Daniel Kawczynski
• Abena Oppong-Asare
• Mary Robinson
• Mohammad Yasin
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
International Development
Overview
The International Development Committee examines the work of the Department of Inter-
national Development (DFID), and runs sessions focusing on areas such as the effectiveness
of UK Aid, and global humanitarian situations. The previous committee gained significant
attention for its inquiry into the exploitation and abuse of individuals abroad by senior aid
workers, and from which the Government and sector were receptive to recommendations.
The newly elected chair, Sarah Champion has said she looks forward to working with the
committee on “some of the most important issues that can improve peoples.” Formerly
Chair: Sarah Champion
the Shadow Minister for Preventing Abuse and Domestic Violence, and formerly Shadow
Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, it is unsurprising Champion has said the committee will fight
“global injustices from violence against women and girls, to poverty that restricts life chances.” Alongside these
areas, the committee will likely focus on the UK’s progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The International Development Committee is linked to the Sub-Committee on the work of the Independent Com-
mission for Aid Impact, which examines the work of the ICAI. Both sub-committees report directly to the Interna-
tional Development Committee.
Membership
• Sarah Champion (Chair)
• Richard Bacon
• Theodora Clarke
• Pauline Latham
• Brendan Clarke-Smith
• Chris Law
• Ian Liddell-Grainger
• Kate Osamor
• Navendu Mishra
• Daniel Poulter
• Virendra Sharma
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
International Trade
Overview
The International Trade Committee is relatively new, being established in 2016 following the
foundation of the Department for International Trade. Despite the impetus behind negoti-
ating a new wave of trade agreements following the Brexit vote, up to now, the UK has only
been able to sign agreements with countries that have existing agreements with the EU. As
a result, many of the inquiry sessions covered have been focused less on tangible policy out-
comes and more theoretical scenarios, such as the potential implications of a UK-US bilat-
eral trade agreement.
However, with the Withdrawal Agreement successfully being introduced to the statute
books, the UK will become an independent trading nation for the first time in nearly forty Chair: Angus MacNeil
years. The committee will therefore play an immensely important role in scrutinising the Government’s future
trading missions in the years to come. In the absence of a strong opposition, the task of evaluating the objectives
of the Global Britain strategy will fall on the International Trade Committee.
Over the course of the 2017-19 Parliament, the committee published a total of six reports on numerous inquiries
including on areas such as UK-US Trade Relations in May 2018 and the UK’s Investment Policy in July 2019. In
particular, the committee inquiry into a prospective US trade deal has gained significant coverage. Indeed, dur-
ing the general election campaign, the Labour Party’s platform of a “toxic Trump deal” highlights the continued
salience of the issue in the public mind.
Six inquires remain uncompleted, currently the inquiry into UK trade in services is the closest to being finished,
with the evidence stage being concluded and the previous committee agreeing to the outline of the report.
With the re-election of the Angus Brendan MacNeil (SNP, Na h-Eileanan An Iar) as Chair of the committee, it is
likely that it will carry out the six inquires yet to be completed and pursue an important scrutinising role for the
Global Britain strategy. Commenting on his re-election, MacNeil said “Beyond Westminster, trade touches the
daily lives of people across the UK in numerous ways: as citizens, workers and business owners. As Chair, I want
to involve as many stakeholders as possible in our scrutiny of trade policy“.
Membership
• Angus Brendan MacNeil (Chair)
• Robert Courts
• Mark Garnier
• Paul Girvan
• Sir Mark Hendrick
• Mark Menzies
• Gareth Thomas
• Martin Vickers
• Matt Western
• Mick Whitley
• Craig Williams
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Justice
Overview
The Justice Committee is one of the 19 Select Committees related to Government Depart-
ments, but also scrutinises the work of the Attorney General’s Office, the Treasury Solici-
tor’s Department, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office.
In the last Parliament, it examined a range of topics, including criminal rehabilitation, radi-
calisation in prisons, and young people in custody. One of its most important inquiries was
into the prison estate, which it found to be in an “appalling” state of crisis.
Robert Neil has been the Committee’s chair since 2015, he ran uncontested in the recent Chair: Robert Neill
election and won the position. This means that most of the unfinished inquiries from the
last Parliament are likely to be rolled over. With Boris Johnson looking to reform the criminal justice system
through a royal commission, as well as making legislative changes to sentencing and probation, and increasing
police numbers, the Committee will have its hands full for the next few years.
Membership
• Robert Neill (Chair)
• Robert Butler
• James Daly
• Sarah Dines
• Maria Eagle
• John Howell
• Kenny MacAskill
• Dr Kieran Mullan
• Ellie Reeves
• Marie Rimmer
• Andy Slaughter
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Northern Irish Affairs
Overview
A Select Committee which attracted much media interest in the last Parliament was the Se-
lect Committee on Northern Irish Affairs. The Committee garnered much attention as it
looked extensively into the Northern Ireland border post Brexit, Northern Ireland’s future
relationship with the rest of the UK, the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, Bombardier and
the lack of an Executive in Northern Ireland. Chair: Simon Hoare
Expect the Committee to continue scrutinising the UK’s exit from the European Union over the next 12 months
as the Government negotiates a new trade deal with the EU with some Members still concerned about the bor-
der between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Protocol which replaced Theresa May’s
backstop in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Northern Irish Assembly is likely to be on the agenda for the Com-
mittee since a new power sharing deal was agreed which saw Stormont reopened as a result. Sir Patrick Cogh-
lin’s report into the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme is due to be published imminently and the Committee
may be interested in its conclusions.
Simon Hoare was elected as Chair towards the end of the last Parliament, after Andrew Murrison was appointed
Minister of State in the Foreign Office. Hoare has been concerned with institutional abuse in Northern Ireland,
writing to the Prime Minister ahead of the December general election to ensure the Historical Institutional
Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill received Royal Assent before Parliament was dissolved. He also quizzed Northern
Ireland Minister, Julian Smith, during the Minister’s first appearance before the select committee in October.
Membership
• Simon Hoare (Chair)
• Caroline Ansell
• Scott Benton
• Robert Goodwill
• Stephen Farry
• Claire Hanna
• Conor McGinn
• Karin Smyth
• Bob Stewart
• Gregory Campbell
• Ian Paisley
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Public Account Committee
Overview
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is one of the most influential committees because it
scrutinises the value for money—the economy, efficiency and effectiveness—of public
spending and generally holds the government and its civil servants to account for the deliv-
ery of public services. The Committee spreads well beyond Government departments, look-
ing at the efficiency of procured services and public - private financing schemes. The Com-
mittee does not look at the spending of individual local authorities, police forces or other
local bodies. That role is performed by the relevant local auditor and/or elected scrutiny
body.
Since 2015, the Committee has been chaired by Meg Hiller, a notoriously strong chair who
Chair: Meg Hillier
did not shy away from turning every stone in her inquires. The committee focussed on the
collapse of Carillion, Brexit and the future of customs, strategic suppliers, and others. PAC also warned that
HMRC was struggling to deliver the new Customs Declaration Service in time and was too slow in up-grading the
CHIEF; it also rang alarm bells that ports were threatened by major disruptions in case of no deal in late 2018.
PAC held the Government to account on the playbook rules for procurement and was vocal on the issue of late
payments for smaller contractors. In its more recent work, the committee has called for regulators across con-
sumer markets- the FCA, Ofgem, Ofcom, Ofwat - to coordinate with each other and develop common principles,
methodological approaches and metrics to measure their effectiveness and impact on consumers.
As Hillier was once again elected (unopposed) chair of the Committee, PAC is likely to follow its recently agreed
programme, looking at fracking, academies, HS2, food safety and standards, starter homes, defence projects,
BBC Pay reforms and progress in modernising the justice system.
Membership
• Meg Hillier (Chair)
• Gareth Bacon
• Kemi Badenoch
• Olivia Blake
• Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
• Dame Cheryl Gillan
• Peter Grant
• Mr Richard Holden
• Sir Bernard Jenkin
• Craig Mackinlay
• Shabana Mahmood
• Gagan Mohindra
• Sarah Olney
• Bridget Phillipson
• Nick Smith
• James Wild
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs
Overview
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) scrutinises the
quality and standards of administration within the Civil Service. The newly elected chair,
William Wragg (Con, Hazel Grove), takes this committee’s helm as it becomes of increased
importance and relevance. In light of the Conservative manifestos’ pledge to evolve the con-
stitution, and Dominic Cumming’s plans for the future of the Civil Service, the PACAC may
have much to consider. Chair: William Wragg
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will certainly be of greater importance in the
year to come, as the country looks to shape our post-Brexit constitutional statement.
Membership
• William Wragg (Chair)
• Ronnie Cowan
• Jackie Doyle-Price
• Chris Evans
• Rachel Hopkins
• David Jones
• David Mundell
• Lloyd Russell-Moyle
• Tom Randall
• Karin Smyth
• John Stevenson
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Scottish Affairs
Overview
The Scottish Affairs Committee enjoys a wide-ranging brief, occasionally blurring the line
between devolved issues and reserved ones. Notable inquiries last time out have a distinctly
rural bent – telecommunications infrastructure and broadband were covered in considera-
ble depth, as MPs battled to deal with deathly slow download speeds in the highlands.
Access to cash was also a topic of acute concern to those in countryside areas and the Chair: Pete Wishart
Committee gained headlines for their inquiry into the topic. Despite the SNP’s electoral
dominance in the 2017 election, membership of the Committee was considerably more mixed, with more union-
ist MPs than nationalist ones. Given the SNP gained even more seats in December, expect this to balance to shift
slightly in their favour.
The SNP ‘s Pete Wishart has retained the position of Chair,. A veteran of the SNP Westminster troupe, Wishart
predated the recent SNP landslides and is a well-known and unifying figure.
Membership
• Pete Wishart (Chair)
Other members have not been agreed to yet
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Science and Technology
Overview
The Science and Technology Committee is responsible for examining the work of the Gov-
ernment Office for Science. As GO-Science is a semi-autonomous organisatation, this makes
work of the Science and Technology Committee somewhat unusual. Underpinning its remit
however is that Government policy and decision-making should be based on good scientific
advice and evidence.
Greg Clark has been confirmed as the new chair for the Science and Technology Committee. Chair: Greg Clark
He has said the committee “has a huge role to play in championing the amazing people, companies, universities,
colleges and research bodies across the UK,” and this goes some way in demonstrating the potential scope of it
work.
The former Science and Technology Committee held inquiries in areas such as digital governance and the use of
e-cigarettes. It will be interesting to see where this new committee goes as we move further into an era where
AI and big-data seem ever-more commonplace.
Membership
• Greg Clark (Chair)
• Aaron Bell,
• Chris Clarkson
• Katherine Fletcher
• Andrew Griffith
• Darren Jones
• Mark Logan
• Carol Monaghan
• Chi Onwurah
• Graham Stringer
• Zarah Sultana
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Transport
Overview
Lilian Greenwood, the liked and respected former Chair of the Transport Committee has
been replaced by Huw Merriman, who has been a member of the committee for five years.
Much of the committee’s focus has been on the railways, with seven prior inquiries focused
exclusively on this subject. Other inquiries have included active travel, local transport,
the health of the bus market and local roads funding and governance. Since 2017 the Chair: Huw Merriman
committee has quizzed the current and former Secretary’s of State and the former Rail
Minister Andrew Jones.
Back in October, before the General Election, the transport committee confirmed their desire to start a national
debate about road pricing. With the decision on HS2 looming, the structure of the railways expected to be out-
lined in the rail review and the need for transport to meet its net zero commitments, Merriman will likely want
the committee to focus on these areas.
In his statement to become Chair, Merriman already indicated his priorities: hold ongoing inquiries on long-term
transport projects like HS2 and Heathrow; probe the performance of government agencies, agencies and indus-
try; examine ways to save bus routes; and ensure across all modes of transport that people can gain access to
compensation.
Having been close to Greenwood, it is likely that Merriman will want to finish the inquiries that hadn’t finished
under her tenue, notably trains fit for the future and the road safety inquiries.
Membership
• Huw Merriman (Chair)
• Ruth Cadbury
• Lilian Greenwood
• Simon Jupp
• Robert Largan
• Chris Loder
• Karl McCartney
• Grahame Morris
• Gavin Newlands
• Greg Smith
• Sam Tarry
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Treasury
Overview
The Treasury Committee is one of the most influential Select Committees, holding to ac-
count the Treasury, HMRC, the Bank of England, the FCA and other associated bodies that
shape the UK economy. It also scrutinises the Budget and looks at the economic policy,
business environment and consumer rights in financial services. Led for the majority of the
last Parliament by Baroness (Nicky) Morgan, seen as a vocal and pragmatic Remainer, the
Committee was deeply involved in the Brexit debate, calling on the Treasury to produce an
impact assessment of the outcome of Brexit, and on the Bank of England to make economic
scenarios based on the key possible routes to Brexit.
Following Morgan’s ministerial appointment, Mel Stride was elected by the Commons to be
next chair of the Committee. His appointment was highly controversial as he was the minis-
ter responsible for the loan charge - tax changes which were highly criticised by many MPs Chair: Mel Stride
under a strong campaign especially following reports of suicides. Stride also refused to ap-
pear in front of the Economic Affairs Committee.
The Committee has recently focussed on consumer vulnerability, calling on the FCA to acquire expertise to en-
sure that the Equality Act is enforced; it called on the regulator to require providers to publish the size of their
loyalty penalty, and to introduce a duty of care for financial services providers. The Committee was somewhat
successful in tackling issues around consumer rights, with the FCA implementing new rules for overdrafts making
them fairer, more transparent and arguably cheaper, capping rent-to-own prices and introducing a single easy
access rates for cash savings and cash ISAs. The committee has also concluded inquiries on household finance,
SME finance and women in finance. Unfinished inquires which are likely to be picked up by the new committee
include the IT failures in the financial services, Decarbonisation of the UK Economy and Green Finance and Re-
gional disparities.
Stride, having been re-elected chair (unopposed), said he would focus on the negotiations for new trade agree-
ments, the ‘levelling up’ agenda, fair business taxation, and tackling the high marginal tax for Universal Credit
recipients. He had also pledged to look at regional imbalances in the UK, Business Rates, Fair Banking and Wom-
en in Finance and expressed his determination to address the high effective marginal tax rates still faced by
those on Universal Credit.
With the UK leaving the EU and the Chancellor adamant that the UK would not attempt to align with the EU
rules and regulations, expect this Committee to grow even more influential. This is unless a new committee(s) is
established to scrutinise new regulations, something that the International Regulatory Strategy Group has called
for.
Membership
• Mel Stride (Chair)
• Rushanara Ali
• Steve Baker
• Harriet Baldwin
• Anthony Browne
• Felicity Buchan
• Angela Eagle
• Liz Kendall
• Julie Marson
• Alison McGovern
• Alison Thewliss
•
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Welsh Affairs
Overview
The Departmental Committee for Welsh Affairs covers both the impact of UK Government
policy on Wales and relations with the Welsh Assembly. Recent inquires have focused on a
range of issues including City Deals, prison provision in Wales, trade, agriculture and the
devolution of air passenger duty.
Former Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb was elected in the recent chair elec-
tions.
Emphasising that the Committee should be a visible voice and an engine of practical ideas
for Wales, Crabb has outlined a plan for scrutinizing government in the years ahead. With
the post-Brexit trade deals, the Shared Prosperity Fund, infrastructure investment and
Chair: Stephen Crabb
the climate challenge expected to sit high on the inquiry list.
Membership
• Stephen Crabb (Chair)
• Tonia Antoniazzi
• Simon Baynes
• Virginia Crosbie
• Geraint Davies
• Ben Lake
• Anna McMorrin
• Robin Millar
• Rob Roberts
• Jamie Wallis
• Beth Winter
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Women & Equalities
Overview
Whilst there is a Minister, the Women and Equalities Committee doesn’t have a direct Gov-
ernment department to mirror. This allows the Committee more flexibility than most, and
inquiries in the last Parliament focused on topics as wide ranging as prostitution, anti-
Semitism and workplace sexual harassment. It was their work on sexual harassment which
garnered the most headlines, with their recommendations being welcomed by the Gov-
Chair: Caroline Nokes
ernment, who subsequently launched a consultation on the use of non-disclosure agree-
ments.
The inquiry into prostitution was cut short after just one oral evidence session due to the snap election, so it
wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume it will start up again in some form in the new Parliament.
Last time out, the Committee was chaired by former Women & Equalities minister Maria Miller, although de-
spite speculation, she chose not to run again for this Parliament. In the end, the Committee received a single
nomination which resulted in Caroline Nokes being elected unopposed.
Membership
• Caroline Nokes (Chair)
• Nickie Aiken
• Sara Britcliffe
• Angela Crawley
• Virginia Crosbie
• Alex Davies—Jones
• Rosie Duffield
• Peter Gibson
• Kim Johnson
• Kate Osborne
• Nicola Richards
March 2020Dods Monitoring: Select Committees
Work and Pensions
Overview
The Work and Pensions Committee have been one of the most effective in performing its
role of scrutinising the Government over the last Parliament. Their criticism of the Govern-
ment’s flagship Universal Credit policy received extensive media coverage, while inquiries
into the gig-economy have shone a light on the changing UK workplace. Outgoing Labour
turned independent chair Frank Field had built up a reputation of bringing ministers in front
of the committee in inquiry after inquiry on universal credits, pensions and poverty. The
Committee can point to several changes in Government policy over Universal Credit as signs
of its influence and the fact a new chair will sit with Labour makes it likely that the approach
of achieving hard hitting headlines on social security will continue.
Chair: Stephen Timms
Having been a Labour former disability benefits and pensions minister and chief secretary
to the Treasury, new chair Stephen Timms, enjoys a cross-party reputation. He expressed a desire to focus on
universal credit, disability, pensions and health and safety post-Brexit. He led the opposition as a work and pen-
sions shadow secretary when the Universal Credit Act went through Parliament, and agrees with the fundamen-
tal idea of merging the benefits, but argued that the implementation was problematic. He spoke about the long
delays for claimants of employment and allowance and personal independence payment and UC. The high gap in
disability employment is something he wants to change along with reviewing consumer protections in the con-
text of pension freedoms.
Membership
• Stephen Timms (Chair)
• Debbie Abrahams
• Shaun Bailey
• Siobhan Baillie
• Neil Coyle
• Steve McCabe
• Nigel Mills
• Selaine Saxby
• Ben Spencer
• Chris Stephens
• Desmond Swayne
March 2020Essential information and connections
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