Is Parliament really Is Parliament really able to ‘scrutinize’ able to ‘scrutinize’
the executive?the executive?To identify the different ways in To identify the different ways in which the executive can be held which the executive can be held
to accountto account
To assess the effectiveness of To assess the effectiveness of such scrutinysuch scrutiny
Aims
Starter activityStarter activity
Compare your list with the list on the next slide
With your partner With your partner think of as many think of as many different reasons different reasons
why MPs ask why MPs ask ministers questions.ministers questions.
Why do MPs asks ministers Why do MPs asks ministers questions?questions?
Gain informationGain information Press for action or raise a grievancePress for action or raise a grievance Publicise the aims of a pressure Publicise the aims of a pressure
groupgroup Raise public profile, esp. with Raise public profile, esp. with
constituents & party membersconstituents & party members Embarrass or show support for Embarrass or show support for
ministersministers
Your taskYour task Study Roberts, p.277-8 and construct a Study Roberts, p.277-8 and construct a
spider diagram to record your notes on spider diagram to record your notes on questions in the House of Commons. Your questions in the House of Commons. Your spider diagram should include the following spider diagram should include the following categories:categories:
Question timeQuestion time The Table OfficeThe Table Office Supplementary questionsSupplementary questions PMQsPMQs Written questionsWritten questions Informal processesInformal processes
Question timeQuestion time
Question Time held Question Time held each weekday each weekday (except Fridays), (except Fridays), lasts approx. 1 hourlasts approx. 1 hour
PMQsPMQs every every Wednesday (12.00-Wednesday (12.00-12.30pm)12.30pm)
Rota system used Rota system used for ministersfor ministers
Table OfficeTable Office
Table Office (4 clerks under control of Table Office (4 clerks under control of Principal Clerk) scrutinize proposed Principal Clerk) scrutinize proposed questionsquestions
Questions requiring oral answers must be Questions requiring oral answers must be given 3 days before Question Time given 3 days before Question Time (c.5,000 oral questions p.a.)(c.5,000 oral questions p.a.)
MP may ask up to 2 oral questions & any MP may ask up to 2 oral questions & any number of written questions a day, but number of written questions a day, but only 1 oral question of 1 minister each only 1 oral question of 1 minister each Question TimeQuestion Time
Table office Table office
Must be questions, Must be questions, cannot be cannot be ‘statements’‘statements’
Must not encourage Must not encourage interpretations of the interpretations of the law (matter for courts law (matter for courts not politicians)not politicians)
Must be appropriate Must be appropriate to minister’s to minister’s departmental departmental responsibilityresponsibility Why shouldn’t ministers offer
interpretations or ‘clarifications’ of the law?
Supplementary questionsSupplementary questions
MPs asking questions MPs asking questions are permitted 1 are permitted 1 supplementary supplementary questionquestion
Speaker may allow Speaker may allow further further supplementaries supplementaries from other MPsfrom other MPs
No advance notice No advance notice for supplementary for supplementary questionsquestions
Former Home Secretary, David
Blunkett answering questions during Question Time
PMQsPMQs Every Wednesday, 30 mins.Every Wednesday, 30 mins. Questions chosen by Questions chosen by
lottery, ‘lottery, ‘the shufflethe shuffle’’ MPs can ask ‘open MPs can ask ‘open
questions’ about questions’ about ‘engagements for the day’ ‘engagements for the day’ and then supplementary and then supplementary questionsquestions
System changed in 1997. System changed in 1997. Previously PMQs took Previously PMQs took place on Tuesday and place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon Thursday afternoon
Leader of Opposition may Leader of Opposition may make up to 4 interventions make up to 4 interventions during PMQ's and the during PMQ's and the leader of the Lib. Dems leader of the Lib. Dems asks 2asks 2
Tony Blair answering questions
at the Despatch Box, during PMQs
Written questionsWritten questions
Ministers must Ministers must respond to written respond to written questionsquestions
c.50,000 written c.50,000 written question p.a.question p.a.
Questions & Questions & answers published answers published in in HansardHansard
Informal processesInformal processes Written questions to Written questions to
ministerminister Informal processes, e.g. Informal processes, e.g.
through Backbench through Backbench Committees, Parl. Parties, Committees, Parl. Parties, 1922 Committee1922 Committee
Private Note Questions Private Note Questions (PNQs) – urgent questions (PNQs) – urgent questions at short notice, front at short notice, front bench spokesperson in bench spokesperson in OppositionOpposition
Apply to Apply to SpeakerSpeaker before before NoonNoon
Question asked at 3.30 in Question asked at 3.30 in HoC to relevant minister HoC to relevant minister (Average of 4 or 5 a (Average of 4 or 5 a month)month)
Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Michael
Martin
Your taskYour task
Analyse the membership, functions Analyse the membership, functions & possible reforms of parliamentary & possible reforms of parliamentary committees by completing the table committees by completing the table your teacher gives you. Use Watts, your teacher gives you. Use Watts, p.208-9 and your own research.p.208-9 and your own research.
A scene from the biannual Liaisons Committee, during which the chair people of all the major parliamentary committees are able to give the PM a grilling for up to 2 ½ hours on the issues of the day.
Your taskYour taskYou are going to hold your own committee meeting. You are going to hold your own committee meeting. Appoint a PM and a Chairperson. The Chairperson will Appoint a PM and a Chairperson. The Chairperson will explain how the task will work.explain how the task will work.
JusticeJustice Immigration & asylumImmigration & asylum Foreign policyForeign policy The economyThe economy SportSport The EnvironmentThe Environment Education and skillsEducation and skills Science & technologyScience & technology HealthHealth Home affairsHome affairs
Your taskYour task
List ways the opposition can hold the List ways the opposition can hold the government to account in green. In government to account in green. In red list ways the powers of the red list ways the powers of the Opposition are limited. On balance Opposition are limited. On balance do you think the Opposition is do you think the Opposition is effective? Write a judgement effective? Write a judgement paragraph using topical evidence to paragraph using topical evidence to support your ideas.support your ideas.
Effectiveness of Effectiveness of oppositionopposition
Structured and regular challengeStructured and regular challenge Provides alternative to govt policy 7 Provides alternative to govt policy 7
legislationlegislation Sustained scrutiny & debateSustained scrutiny & debate Provides bi-partisan support, e.g. Provides bi-partisan support, e.g.
when war declared against Iraqwhen war declared against Iraq Alternative to government – policies Alternative to government – policies
need to be coherent & convincingneed to be coherent & convincing
Weakness of OppositionWeakness of Opposition
Not supported by civil service Not supported by civil service advisers / resourcesadvisers / resources
Govt sets the agenda & Opposition Govt sets the agenda & Opposition respondsresponds
PM sets date of GEPM sets date of GE Polarises policies – tries to set ‘clear Polarises policies – tries to set ‘clear
water’ between govt & oppositionwater’ between govt & opposition Landslide victories for govt. weaken Landslide victories for govt. weaken
role of Opposition, e.g. in divisionsrole of Opposition, e.g. in divisions
PlenaryPlenary
How effective are questions in How effective are questions in holding the executive to account?holding the executive to account?
How effective are committees in How effective are committees in holding the executive to account?holding the executive to account?
Does David Cameron’s opposition Does David Cameron’s opposition provide a credible opposition party?provide a credible opposition party?
Extension taskExtension task
Visit the BBC News website: Visit the BBC News website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politichttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7661120.stms/7661120.stm
Gather information on the leading Gather information on the leading members of Cameron’s ‘Shadow members of Cameron’s ‘Shadow cabinet’. In particular, think about cabinet’. In particular, think about their particular skills & experience their particular skills & experience for their posts.for their posts.