Parliamentary select committees of the United Kingdom facts for kids

The parliamentary select committees of the United Kingdom are special groups made up of members from the British Parliament. These members can come from the House of Commons, the House of Lords, or sometimes from both, forming a "Joint Committee".

These committees help Parliament do its job. Committees from the House of Commons mostly check on what government departments and agencies are doing. House of Lords committees often look at bigger topics, like the UK's rules or the economy.

What are Parliament's Special Teams?

Parliament's special teams, called select committees, are like detective groups. They are formed by Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the House of Lords. Their main job is to keep an eye on the government and make sure everything is working well.

Who Joins These Teams?

Members for these committees can come from different parts of Parliament:

• House of Commons: These are the MPs that people vote for. An example is the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, which looks at how the UK deals with other countries.
• House of Lords: These members are not elected. An example is the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee, which checks new laws.
• Joint Committees: Sometimes, members from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords work together. The Joint Committee on Human Rights is one such group, focusing on human rights issues.

What Do These Teams Do?

The committees have important roles:

• Checking on Government: House of Commons committees make sure that government departments and their agencies are doing their jobs properly. They investigate how public money is spent and if policies are working.
• Looking at Big Issues: House of Lords committees often study wider topics. For example, the Constitution Committee looks at the UK's main rules, and the Economic Affairs Committee examines the economy.

Types of Parliamentary Committees

Not all committees are the same. Some are permanent, while others are set up for a specific task and then close down.

Permanent Committees

Many committees are "sessional," which means they are almost always around. They continue their work throughout different parliamentary sessions, like the European Union Committee in the House of Lords. This committee reviews new rules from the European Union.

Temporary Committees

Other committees are "ad-hoc." This means they are created for a special, short-term job. Once they finish their investigation and report their findings, they stop existing. An example could be a committee set up to look into a very specific problem for a limited time.

Committees for European Rules

Both the House of Lords and the House of Commons have committees that check on rules coming from the European Union. The House of Lords has the European Union Committee, and the House of Commons has the European Scrutiny Committee. They make sure these rules are right for the UK.

Images for kids

• 

  A select committee meeting in Portcullis House, a building near the Houses of Parliament.