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).
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Notes
Meg Russell and Meghan Benton (June 2011). Selective Influence: The Policy Impact of House of Commons Select Committees (Constitution Unit. University College, London).
Public Accounts Committee (August 2011). The Private Finance Initiative.
House of Commons Liaison Committee (March 2012). Select Committees and their Effectiveness. Written evidence.
Public Administration Select Committee (December 2011). Big Society.
Public Administration Select Committee (July 2008). Public Services and the Third Sector: Rhetoric and Reality.
Public Administration Select Committee (September 2011). Change in Government. The Agenda for Leadership.
Public Administration Select Committee (August 2007). Skills for Government.
Public Administration Select Committee (July 2008). From Citizen’s Charter to Public Service Guarantees: Entitlement to Public Services.
Public Administration Select Committee (May 2008). User Involvement in Public Services.
Public Administration Select Committee (March 2010). Too Many Ministers?
Public Accounts Committee (October 2011). The Efficiency and Reform Group’s Role in Improving Public Sector Value for Money.
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© 2013 Michael Burton
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Burton, M. (2013). The Role of Parliament. In: The Politics of Public Sector Reform. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137316240_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137316240_7
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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