How effective is Parliament in ensuring executive accountability - Essay Example

This paper will look at the select committees and how they play a role in holding the executive accountable as some part of the parliament agencies. The Ministerial Question Time and the advantages and disadvantages that come with it are also discussed. This helps understand or determine whether the parliament has been effective in ensuring that the executive is accountable in what they do. Keywords: Executive, Government, Select Committee, Ministerial Question Time, Accountability Introduction Accountability is an aspect required in every kind of administration. In the U.K.

, the House of Lords and the House of Commons both have select committees that scrutinize their operations. Ministerial Question Time is also used as a method of scrutiny parliament. It is used as a way to hold the executive branch of the government into account of what they do. This paper discusses the different types of select committees, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as Ministerial Question Time and the advantages and Disadvantages associated with it. Select committees Select committees work in both houses; that is, the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Most consist of eleven members who are chosen by the members of the parliament from their own parties. Their work is to check and report on areas ranging from the work of government departments to economic affairs. The report is usually published and sometimes discussed in the parliament. When the report is presented to the parliament, the government is given an average of sixty days to respond to the report. Generally, the select committees have limited power as they can request the attendance of ministers, but the ministers have an option of availing or not availing themselves.

Before, the chairs of the each Select Committee used to be chosen by a select committee that was largely influenced by the government the party whips. Today, the chairs are normally chosen according to the Wright Committee proposals of 2009 through an AV election by all MPs (“Select Committees”, n.d.). Explain different types of select committees and identify the advantages and disadvantages of each as well There are two committees which differ in their responsibilities. First, there is the House of Commons Select Committee or the departmental Select committee.

It has a minimum of 11 members as said earlier, who decide on how they will conduct their inquiry and then gather written and oral evidence. This Select Committee is given the work of examining the work of the government departments; that is, their expenditure, administration and policies of the government (“Select Commitees,” n.d.). The advantage of the Select Committee of the House of Common is that their mandate is not very limited, as some committees have roles that go beyond the boundaries of the department.

They are also allowed to appoint specialist advisers, who advise them on particular matters, but these appointees are not permanent they are paid on a daily basis (“Select Commitees,” n.d.). The Select Committee of the House of Lords usually concentrates on four main areas; that is, Europe, science, economics, and the constitution of United Kingdom. Each are has been put under a committee that is, the European Union committee, and the rest follows (“Select Commitees,” n.d.). The committee members under the House of Lords