Select committee (United Kingdom)

In British politics, parliamentary select committees are cross-party groups of MPs or Lords which investigate specific issues or scrutinise the work of the Government of the United Kingdom.

[3] Some English local authorities also have a select committee system, as part of their Overview and Scrutiny arrangements.

As part of these inquiries they gather information from government officials and interested people, groups, and organisations.

[6] Political parties divide committee chair positions based on their number of seats in the House of Commons.

The Osmotherly Rules set out guidance on how civil servants should respond to parliamentary select committees.

[11] The House of Commons allocated which parties would hold each Chair in advance of the summer recess on 30 July 2024.

In the sixteenth century, committees revised bills and considered constitutional and religious questions.

[22][23] A select committee evidence session is featured in season 3, episode 5 of Industry (TV series).

In the episode, Robert is sent to represent Pierpoint as part of the committee's inquiry into the collapse and bailout of Lumi, a green energy tech company.

A 2015 select committee inquiry into the Horizon computer system features in Mr Bates vs The Post Office.