Are House of Commons select committees equipped to meet the new challenges facing parliamentary scrutiny? Liam Byrne, the Labour former minister leading a review of the committee system, joins us to explore whether committees have the powers, resources and support they need in the modern scrutiny environment.
Among his concerns is the increasing use of “lawfare” to force the disclosure of information provided by whistleblowers who give evidence to committees. How can Parliament protect witnesses from retaliation? And does the Commons have adequate powers to compel people to appear and obtain the documents its committees need?
With Andy Burnham promising closer ties with the EU, is it time to reinvent the European Scrutiny Committee? Could Westminster learn from New Zealand by setting aside a week for committees to examine departmental public spending? And does Parliament need a parliamentary budget office to help MPs interrogate the public finances and the cost of policy choices? It would not come cheap, Liam acknowledges, but he argues that it looks increasingly necessary.
Plus, how has the Burnham factor reshaped British politics? As MPs return to Westminster after the conference season, we explore how the shifting balance of power could play out in Parliament. The new Prime Minister has set out ambitious long-term goals. But he already has a commanding Commons majority. How might he use it?
We finish with some unsolicited advice for Ed Davey. Facing criticism that the Liberal Democrats have made too little impact since the election, how could he use his 72 MPs – the party’s largest-ever contingent – to make a bigger splash at Westminster?
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Parliament Matters is a Hansard Society production supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.
Presenters: Mark D’Arcy and Ruth Fox
Producer: Gareth Jones
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