Liaison Committee (House of Commons)

Liaison Committee (House of Commons)
Post	Liaison Committee
Body	House of Commons
Member of	House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Constituting instrument	Standing Order No. 145
Formation	1979

Liaison Committee (House of Commons) is a select committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom composed of the chairs of all other permanent investigative select committees. Established in 1979 following recommendations from the Procedure Committee, its primary function is to oversee the work of these committees and allocate resources. It also holds the unique power to summon the Prime Minister for regular evidence sessions, a significant mechanism for scrutiny of the executive. The committee plays a central role in the Parliament's efforts to hold the government to account and examine cross-departmental issues.

Role and responsibilities

The core role of the committee is to coordinate and strengthen the work of the House of Commons select committee system. Its responsibilities include considering the overall resources, administration, and effectiveness of departmental and other major select committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee. A key duty is to question the Prime Minister, typically three times a year, on matters of public policy and the implementation of the government's programme. It also examines proposals for new select committee inquiries, publishes reports on strategic issues affecting the committee system, and represents the interests of committee chairs to the House of Commons Commission.

Membership and appointment

Membership is drawn exclusively from the chairs of the major permanent investigative select committees, such as the Treasury Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Home Affairs Committee. The chair of the Liaison Committee is elected by the whole House of Commons from among its members, following a process established by the Wright Committee reforms. Notable chairs have included Alan Beith, Sir George Young, and Sir Bernard Jenkin. The committee's composition ensures it represents a wide spectrum of policy expertise and reflects the political balance of the House of Commons.

History and evolution

The committee was established in 1979, implementing recommendations from a 1978 report by the Procedure Committee chaired by Edward du Cann. This reform was part of a broader movement to enhance parliamentary scrutiny following the creation of departmental select committees. Its power to question the Prime Minister was not a formal function initially but evolved through practice, with the first regular sessions beginning under Tony Blair in 2002. The committee's role was significantly strengthened by the 2010 reforms inspired by the Wright Committee, which introduced elected select committee chairs, thereby increasing the committee's independence and authority.

Notable inquiries and reports

The committee conducts inquiries into the work of select committees and broader parliamentary matters. Notable reports have included examinations of the scrutiny of government finance, the effectiveness of the House of Commons select committee system, and the legislative process. Its sessions with the Prime Minister often generate significant attention, such as those during the COVID-19 pandemic questioning Boris Johnson, or inquiries into the conduct of the Iraq Inquiry and preparations for Brexit. These sessions are a major platform for challenging the head of the government on the record.

Relationship with the Prime Minister

The committee's most high-profile function is its regular public evidence sessions with the Prime Minister. This practice, now a settled convention, provides a unique forum for sustained, detailed questioning by senior parliamentarians on a wide range of topics, from the NHS and the economy to foreign policy. The sessions are distinct from the weekly PMQs in their length and depth. The relationship is governed by mutual recognition of the committee's authority, though attendance by the Prime Minister remains a matter of convention rather than a statutory requirement.

Criticisms and reform proposals

Criticisms of the committee include that its questioning of the Prime Minister can be uneven and lack follow-up, and that its membership, being composed of busy committee chairs, may not dedicate sufficient time to its strategic role. Some reformers, including the Institute for Government, have argued for it to be given a more formal role in setting the parliamentary agenda or scrutinizing major constitutional issues. Proposals have also suggested making the Prime Minister's attendance a statutory obligation and expanding its remit to coordinate with committees in the House of Lords, such as the Constitution Committee.

Category:House of Commons (United Kingdom) committees Category:1979 establishments in the United Kingdom