Committee of Selection (House of Commons): Difference between revisions
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The '''Committee of Selection''' is a [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|select committee]] of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. Unlike the Commons' other select committees, the Committee of Selection exists by virtue of the House's Standing Orders for Private Business, its rules for bills that affect only specific organizations or individuals.<ref name="private">[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmstords/441/pvtbs15.htm#a123 House of Commons Standing Order (Private Business) 109–111]</ref> Despite that, the committee is best known for appointing members of committees established under resolutions of the House and the Standing Orders for Public Business. |
The '''Committee of Selection''' is a [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|select committee]] of the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]]. Unlike the Commons' other select committees, the Committee of Selection exists by virtue of the House's Standing Orders for Private Business, its rules for bills that affect only specific organizations or individuals.<ref name="private">[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmstords/441/pvtbs15.htm#a123 House of Commons Standing Order (Private Business) 109–111]</ref> Despite that, the committee is best known for appointing members of committees established under resolutions of the House and the Standing Orders for Public Business. |
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Members of the Committee of Selection are nominated by a motion tabled and moved by a member of the Government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nomination of members |url=https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/5884/nomination-of-members |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Erskine May - UK Parliament}}</ref> As the Committee of Selection is not covered by Standing Order No. 122B,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2024 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmstords/so_829_05072024/so-orders.html#_idTextAnchor466 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> its chair is chosen by the members of the committee itself unless the House orders otherwise.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election of Chairs by the House |url=https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/5883/election-of-chairs-by-the-house |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Erskine May - UK Government}}</ref> |
Members of the Committee of Selection are nominated by a motion tabled and moved by a member of the Government. The Government also nominates members to the [[Liaison Committee (House of Commons of the United Kingdom)|Liaison Committee]], the [[Commons Select Committee on Standards|Committee on Standards]], the [[Commons Select Committee of Privileges|Committee of Privileges]], and committees established by a temporary standing order in the same way, although on occasion the Committee of Selection has been tasked with performing such nominations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nomination of members |url=https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/5884/nomination-of-members |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Erskine May - UK Parliament}}</ref> As the Committee of Selection is not covered by Standing Order No. 122B,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2024 |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmstords/so_829_05072024/so-orders.html#_idTextAnchor466 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=UK Parliament}}</ref> its chair is chosen by the members of the committee itself unless the House orders otherwise.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election of Chairs by the House |url=https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/5883/election-of-chairs-by-the-house |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Erskine May - UK Government}}</ref> |
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After the non-Chair members of other select committees have been chosen via elections within each party,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Election of select committee chairs and members in the House of Commons |url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/election-select-committee-chairs-and-members |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Institute for Government |language=en}}</ref> a motion setting out membership of each committee is tabled and moved on behalf of the Committee of Selection by one of its members.<ref name=":0" /> |
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| ⚫ | With few exceptions, notably the Committee of Selection itself, the standards committee, the privileges committee and the |
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| ⚫ | With few exceptions, notably the Committee of Selection itself, the standards committee, the privileges committee and the Liaison Committee, only members of the committee acting on its behalf may nominate new members to committees or propose the discharge of members. Appointments to select committees are made through motions put before the House of Commons, while appointments to general committees (such as [[public bill committee]]s) are made by the committee's own authority.<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmstords.htm Standing Orders (Public Business) 85 & 86]</ref> With respect to private business, all private bills are automatically referred to the committee, which in turn either refers unopposed bills to the [[Unopposed Bill Committee]] and [[public bill committee|refers opposed bills to committees]] whose members it also appoints.<ref name="private" /> |
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==Role in the selection of public bill committees== |
==Role in the selection of public bill committees== |
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Revision as of 21:31, 16 October 2024
The Committee of Selection is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Unlike the Commons' other select committees, the Committee of Selection exists by virtue of the House's Standing Orders for Private Business, its rules for bills that affect only specific organizations or individuals.[1] Despite that, the committee is best known for appointing members of committees established under resolutions of the House and the Standing Orders for Public Business.
Members of the Committee of Selection are nominated by a motion tabled and moved by a member of the Government. The Government also nominates members to the Liaison Committee, the Committee on Standards, the Committee of Privileges, and committees established by a temporary standing order in the same way, although on occasion the Committee of Selection has been tasked with performing such nominations.[2] As the Committee of Selection is not covered by Standing Order No. 122B,[3] its chair is chosen by the members of the committee itself unless the House orders otherwise.[4]
After the non-Chair members of other select committees have been chosen via elections within each party,[5] a motion setting out membership of each committee is tabled and moved on behalf of the Committee of Selection by one of its members.[2]
With few exceptions, notably the Committee of Selection itself, the standards committee, the privileges committee and the Liaison Committee, only members of the committee acting on its behalf may nominate new members to committees or propose the discharge of members. Appointments to select committees are made through motions put before the House of Commons, while appointments to general committees (such as public bill committees) are made by the committee's own authority.[6] With respect to private business, all private bills are automatically referred to the committee, which in turn either refers unopposed bills to the Unopposed Bill Committee and refers opposed bills to committees whose members it also appoints.[1]
Role in the selection of public bill committees
The Committee of Selection performs a crucial, yet often overlooked function in scrutinising legislation. The current structure of the committee is dominated by party whips. This means that the government effectively chooses which MPs will scrutinise its bills. Advocates of reform highlight that the current organisation of the committee means that MPs who are subject specialists or may hold views contrary to the leadership of their party can be kept off public bill committees. Suggested reforms include limiting the number of whips that can serve on the committee and allowing MPs a vote on public bill committee nominations.[7]
Current members
Members are elected at the beginning of each session. As of October 2022 the committee's membership is as follows:[8][9]
| Member | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Wiggin MP (chair) | Conservative | North Herefordshire | |
| Jo Churchill MP | Conservative | Bury St Edmunds | |
| Chris Elmore MP | Labour | Ogmore | |
| Nigel Huddleston MP | Conservative | Mid Worcestershire | |
| Lilian Greenwood MP | Labour | Nottingham South | |
| Rebecca Harris MP | Conservative | Castle Point | |
| Mark Tami MP | Labour | Alyn and Deeside | |
| Richard Thomson MP | Scottish National Party | Gordon | |
| Craig Whittaker MP | Conservative | Calder Valley | |
See also
References
- ^ a b House of Commons Standing Order (Private Business) 109–111
- ^ a b "Nomination of members". Erskine May - UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2024". UK Parliament. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "Election of Chairs by the House". Erskine May - UK Government. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "Election of select committee chairs and members in the House of Commons". Institute for Government. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ Standing Orders (Public Business) 85 & 86
- ^ House of Commons – Political and Constitutional Reform Committee – Revisiting Rebuilding the House: the impact of the Wright reforms
- ^ "Committee of Selection - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- ^ "Business Before Questions – Volume 720: debated on Tuesday 18 October 2022". hansard.parliament.uk. UK Hansard. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
That Sir David Evennett be discharged from the Committee of Selection and Nigel Huddleston be added.