Is Parliament really able to scrutinize the executive

1
Is Parliament really able to scrutinize the
executive?
2
? Starter activity

• With your partner think of as many different
  reasons why MPs ask ministers questions.

Compare your list with the list on the next slide
?
3
Why do MPs asks ministers questions?

• Gain information
• Press for action or raise a grievance
• Publicise the aims of a pressure group
• Raise public profile, esp. with constituents
  party members
• Embarrass or show support for ministers

4
? Your task

• Study Roberts, p.277-8 and construct a spider
  diagram to record your notes on questions in the
  House of Commons. Your spider diagram should
  include the following categories
• Question time
• The Table Office
• Supplementary questions
• PMQs
• Written questions
• Informal processes

5
Question time

• Question Time held each weekday (except Fridays),
  lasts approx. 1 hour
• PMQs every Wednesday (12.00-12.30pm)
• Rota system used for ministers

6
Table Office

• Table Office (4 clerks under control of Principal
  Clerk) scrutinize proposed questions
• Questions requiring oral answers must be given 3
  days before Question Time (c.5,000 oral questions
  p.a.)
• MP may ask up to 2 oral questions any number of
  written questions a day, but only 1 oral question
  of 1 minister each Question Time

7
Table office

• Must be questions, cannot be statements
• Must not encourage interpretations of the law
  (matter for courts not politicians)
• Must be appropriate to ministers departmental
  responsibility

Why shouldnt ministers offer interpretations or
clarifications of the law?
8
Supplementary questions

• MPs asking questions are permitted 1
  supplementary question
• Speaker may allow further supplementaries from
  other MPs
• No advance notice for supplementary questions

Former Home Secretary, David Blunkett answering
questions during Question Time
9
PMQs

• Every Wednesday, 30 mins.
• Questions chosen by lottery, the shuffle
• MPs can ask open questions about engagements
  for the day and then supplementary questions
• System changed in 1997. Previously PMQs took
  place on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon
• Leader of Opposition may make up to 4
  interventions during PMQ's and the leader of the
  Lib. Dems asks 2

Tony Blair answering questions at the Despatch
Box, during PMQs
10
Written questions

• Ministers must respond to written questions
• c.50,000 written question p.a.
• Questions answers published in Hansard

11
Informal processes

• Written questions to minister
• Informal processes, e.g. through Backbench
  Committees, Parl. Parties, 1922 Committee
• Private Note Questions (PNQs) urgent questions
  at short notice, front bench spokesperson in
  Opposition
• Apply to Speaker before Noon
• Question asked at 3.30 in HoC to relevant
  minister (Average of 4 or 5 a month)

Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Michael Martin
12
? Plenary

• How effective are questions in holding the
  executive to account?

13
How far can MPs hold the executive to account
with questions?

• Roberts, PMQs ritualistic session of set pieces
• Majority of answers are written, and can be
  prepared
• Limited opportunities for supplementaries
• Question Time does not provide detailed responses
• Help to publicise party or public concerns

PMQs is sometimes compared to a Punch Judy
show.
14
? Your task

• In 1997 the Labour Government reformed many of
  the processes by which questions were asked in
  the House of Commons. Imagine you are part of a
  new committee set up with the task of making the
  executive more accountable. What reforms would
  you make?

15
? Your task

• As well as formal processes for questioning and
  debate there are also informal ways of
  scrutinizing the executive and holding it to
  account. Read the 4 extracts on p.279 and list
  the evidence they provide of informal processes.
  Which of these processes is most effective in
  challenging the government?

16

• Item A television radio interviews, e.g.
  Newsnight
• Item B corridors are more important than debates
  in HoC (which are poorly attended, there are few
  chances to participate ineffective at changing
  policy)
• Item C executive needs confidence of the party,
  backbenchers shape policy (e.g. Eurosceptics in
  Tory Party), informal meetings correspondence
• Item D New Labour govt. willingness to do deals
  with backbenchers