Law and Lawyers: Parliamentary committees

12 September 2025

Parliamentary committees - Notes for Students

Major debates in Parliament frequently attract significant media attention and, almost every week, Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons is analysed in detail by numerous commentators.

In practice, the work of Parliament is much more extensive and many important matters are examined by Select Committees.

"Select Committees" operate in both House of Parliament - Select Committees

They check and report on numerous areas and, in particular, the work of government departments.

The current list

of House of Commons Select Committees is HERE. There are committees examining the work of specific government departments and the list includes others such as the Committee on Privileges, Justice Committee, Public Accounts Committee etc.

The current list of House of Lords Select Committees is HERE. The list includes Constitution, European Affairs, International Agreements, Justice and Home Affairs, Procedure and Privileges.

There are also some Joint Committees - HERE. This list includes Human Rights, Intelligence and Security, Statutory Instruments.

Parliament's website enables individuals to see the work of each committee and committee sessions are televised. Reports are published.

The Commons Justice Committee is currently examining Access to Justice, Work of the County Court, Tackling drugs in prisons, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Ending the cycle of re-offending).

The Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into electronic monitoring, and is also examining Prison Culture (Governance, Leadership, Staffing), and Electronic Border Management.

The Human Rights (Joint Committee) currently has seven on-going inquiries: Human Rights and the Regulation of AI, a proposal for a draft Human Rights Act 1998 (Remedial) Order, Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England, Crime and Policing Bill, the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, Transnational Repression in the UK, Forced labout supply in UK supply chains.

Committee Reports may be found by searching HERE. Responses from government are also published and may be found via the latter link.

Other links

The Institute for Government has material about Select Committees - HERE.

24 April 2025 - House of Commons Library - Select Committees Core Tasks

2019 - House of Lords Library - Select Committees in the House of Lords

House of Commons library publication - How are diplomats appointed?

*** NOTES FOR STUDENTS ***

28/4/25 - Human Rights

https://obiterj.blogspot.com/2025/04/human-rights-background.html

30/4/25 - Inquiries

https://obiterj.blogspot.com/2025/04/inquiries-notes-for-students.html

3/5/25 - Treaties