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

Grooming Gangs - The Inquiry - What has been done so far?

With additions .....

On 2 September 2025, Jess Phillips MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office) updated the House of Commons on the progress being made to deliver Baroness Casey’s recommendations following her national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse, which was published before the summer recess. 

Statement - House of Commons - 2 September 2025 

Baroness Casey - Report of the National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (197 pages).

 

Recommendation 2 of Casey's report stated

Parliament - a point on the scrutiny of Ministers

Back in November 2023, former Prime Minister David Cameron returned to government as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. He did not have a seat in Parliament and so he was created Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, enabling him to sit in the (unelected) House of Lords.

A previous post looked at that particular situation - post 14 November 2023

 

Under the UK's constitutional arrangements, Cameron's appointment was entirely lawful BUT it raised the question of how elected MPs in the House of Commons could scrutinise his work. This was of concern

Another Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor + a note on Angela Rayner MP leaving government

Since May 2010, 12 individuals have held the post of Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. Here is the list.  (Dominic Raab held the post twice).

The most recent change occurred on 5 September following the resignation from government of Angela Rayner MP (who was Deputy Prime Minister). Rayner's departure spurred the Prime Minister (Sir Keir Starmer) into a major 'reshuffle' of ministerial posts. One of the moves was to appoint David Lammy MP as Deputy Prime Minister and to move the Justice Secretary (Shabana Mahmood MP) to the Home Office.

Ever since the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 section 2, the Lord Chancellor need not have legal qualifications but that is not the case with either Mahmood or Lammy.

 

Shabana Mahmood studied law at

Reform of the ancient double jeopardy rule

Historically, English criminal law stood against repeated retrials of alleged offenders - the double jeopardy rule. Hence, if a defendant (D) was either acquitted or convicted of an offence he could not be tried again for that offence. 

It was a rule that prevented persecution of individuals but was also capable of producing distressing results especially in cases where there was new evidence justifying a retrial.

 

Reform to the double jeopardy rule came with Part 10 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (the 2003 Act). This permits retrials but only in respect of a number of qualifying offences, where new and compelling evidence has come to light. 

The list

Sentencing Bill 2025

Here is the Sentencing Bill introduced to the House of Commons by the government on 2 September 2025.

The text of the Bill (as introduced) is HERE. 

Explanatory Notes are also published - HERE.  

 

This Bill makes sentencing reforms in line with the recommendations made by the Independent Sentencing Review (ISR) in May 2025. 

Clause 19

Handling the backlog of immigration / asylum appeals ~ independent professional adjudicators?

Concern within government over immigration cases is driving change to the handling of asylum appeals, currently dealt with by the tribunal system. Ministers plainly wish to speed up the legal process and, presumably, achieve earlier deportation of those whose claims are rejected. Fuller details of the government's plans will be announced in the autumn. Meanwhile, it is worth noting some of the early expressions of concern. First, let's briefly look at the existing tribunal system.

 

The system of Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales is well-described by the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England and Wales (ICLR) - The Courts and Tribunals of England and Wales. 

First-tier Tribunal