The Role of Parliament

Abstract

Through its select committees of MPs in the Commons, which shadow the government departments, and peers in the Lords, where they examine specialist subject areas, Parliament maintains a watchdog role on whether the government is performing efficiently in the best interests of the public. The management of public services and the way governments handle change programmes is a particular focus of parliamentary select committees. But in comparison to government departments select committees are not well resourced, are often investigating weaknesses in public sector management in hindsight when it is too late to influence improvements and depend on the individual abilities of committee members. Nonetheless the fact that both ministers and senior civil servants have criticised select committees suggests the latter’s salvoes have found their mark (see below).