How to Follow Select Committee Inquiries

Select committees are cross-party groups of MPs or Lords appointed to scrutinise specific Government departments, policy areas, or aspects of public administration. Every major Government department has a corresponding select committee in the House of Commons.

Unlike Public Bill Committees (which examine specific legislation line-by-line), select committees have broad remits to investigate any aspect of their department's work. They choose their own topics, set their own schedules, and publish reports with recommendations that the Government is expected to respond to.

There are currently around 30 select committees in the Commons and a further 20+ in the Lords. Committees typically have 11 members, elected by their respective parties. The chair is elected by the whole House and carries significant personal authority.

A typical select committee inquiry follows this pattern:

Written evidence is your most accessible route to influencing a committee inquiry. Here's how to submit effectively:

• Address the terms of reference directly. Committees set specific questions. Structure your submission around those questions and number your paragraphs for easy reference.
• Be concise. Most committees request submissions of no more than 3,000 words. Committee members read dozens of submissions — brevity is valued.
• Lead with evidence, not opinion. Committees are looking for facts, data, and direct experience. Anecdote is acceptable if it illustrates a specific point.
• Include recommendations. Tell the committee what you think they should recommend to Government. Be specific and actionable.
• Submit early. Submissions received well before the deadline are more likely to be read in full and may influence the committee's choice of oral witnesses.

Oral evidence sessions are public hearings where witnesses are questioned by committee members. They are the most visible part of the inquiry process and often generate media coverage.

Key things to know about oral sessions:

• They are recorded and published. Transcripts appear in Hansard within days. Video recordings are available on Parliament TV.
• Witnesses are under oath. While not legally binding in the same way as a court, misleading a select committee is treated as contempt of Parliament.
• Committee members divide questions between them. Each member typically has 5-10 minutes. The chair controls the session and may ask supplementary questions.
• Ministers are regularly called. The final oral session of an inquiry often features the relevant minister, who must answer questions on the record.

Committee reports are the culmination of an inquiry. A well-received report can shift Government policy, change the terms of a public debate, or provide ammunition for legislative amendments. Reports typically:

• Summarise the evidence received (citing specific submissions and oral testimony)
• Set out the committee's analysis and conclusions
• Make numbered recommendations to Government
• Include dissenting opinions from any committee members who disagree

The Government must respond to each numbered recommendation within 60 days. The response is published and debated — sometimes in a dedicated Westminster Hall debate.

For public affairs professionals, the Government response is often more informative than the report itself. It reveals exactly where the Government agrees, where it pushes back, and where it tries to defer.

• They set the agenda. Committees can investigate any topic within their remit. An inquiry announcement signals that Parliament is paying attention to your sector.
• They create the evidence base. Committee reports are among the most cited documents in parliamentary debates. A recommendation in your favour carries significant weight.
• They hold ministers to account. Unlike debates where ministers can dodge questions, committee hearings are persistent and detailed. Ministers must engage substantively.
• They influence legislation. Committee recommendations frequently appear as amendments at Committee or Report stage. A committee report supporting your position strengthens the case for legislative change.
• They are accessible. Unlike lobbying ministers directly (which requires formal channels), anyone can submit written evidence to a committee inquiry. It's the most democratic form of parliamentary engagement.

Emily tracks select committee activity alongside all other parliamentary data, giving you a unified view:

• Get alerts when new inquiries are launched in your sector
• Track committee membership — know exactly who sits on each committee and monitor when memberships change
• Oral evidence sessions are transcribed and searchable — ask Emily "What did the CEO of Ofwat say to the Environment Committee?"
• Committee reports and Government responses are indexed and summarised
• Cross-reference committee members with your stakeholder map to identify engagement opportunities

Committees are where Parliament does its most detailed and influential work. Emily ensures you never miss an inquiry, evidence deadline, or report that matters to your organisation.