Committees

A large part of the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords takes place in committees, made up of MPs or Lords. These committees consider policy issues, scrutinise the work and expenditure of the government, and examine proposals for primary and secondary legislation. Select committees (see below) operate largely by an investigative process, while legislative committees operate mainly by debate.

All committees A-Z

Select Committee news

No need to change BBC's mission to 'inform, educate and entertain'

Communications Committee report on BBC Charter Review published

Metropolitan Police Commissioner questioned on his work
Home Affairs Committee questions Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe on the work of the Metropolitan Police
HS2 questioned on Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee first evidence session on PHSO report on HS2
Lord Chief Justice's Report for 2015 examined
Justice Committee hears from the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales

All Committee news

All committees A-Z

Inquiries A-Z

New Inquiries Date announced

Match Fixing in Tennis	24.02.2016
Inquiry into Government accounts	23.02.2016
Rail technology	23.02.2016
EUNAVFOR MED (Operation Sophia)	23.02.2016
EU Port Regulation	17.02.2016

All Inquiries

What's on

Wednesday 24 February 2016

House of Commons

Main Chamber

Time	Business
11:30am	Oral questions Wales
12:00pm	Prime Minister's Question Time
	Ten Minute Rule Motion Consumer Protection (Distance Selling Delivery Charges) - Drew Hendry
	Opposition Day Debate (19th Allotted Day) (i) Transitional state pension arrangements for women (ii) Police funding, crime and community safety
	Adjournment Future of Katie Road NHS walk-in centre - Steve McCabe

Full Parliamentary calendar

Westminster Hall

Time	Business
9:30am - 11:00am	Westminster Hall debate Biomass as a source of renewable energy - Nigel Adams
11:00am - 11:30am	Westminster Hall debate Proposed sale of Kneller Hall, Whitton by the Ministry of Defence - Dr Tania Mathias
2:30pm - 4:00pm	Westminster Hall debate Closure of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills office in Sheffield - Kevin Barron
4:00pm - 4:30pm	Westminster Hall debate Disabilities, poverty and inequalities - Natalie McGarry
4:30pm - 5:30pm	Westminster Hall debate Treatment of Crohn’s and colitis sufferers in England - Mrs Anne Main

Full Parliamentary calendar

General Committee

Time	Business	Venue
2:00pm	Public Bill Committee House of Commons (Administration) Bill	Room 11, Palace of Westminster

Full Parliamentary calendar

Select Committee

Time	Business	Venue
9:30am	Oral Evidence Session Pensions automatic enrolment Ian Cass, Managing Director, Forum of Private Business Mike Cherry, Policy Director, Federation of Small Businesses James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores Yvonne Braun, Director, Long Term Savings Policy, Association of British Insurers David Fairs, Chairman, Association of Consulting Actuaries Tim Sharp, Pensions Policy Officer, Trade Union Congress Thomas Brooks, Senior Policy Researcher, Citizens Advice	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
9:30am	Oral Evidence Session Northern Ireland and the EU referendum Wilfred Mitchell OBE, Policy Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses, Northern Ireland branch Roger Pollen, Head of External Affairs, Federation of Small Businesses, Northern Ireland branch Patricia O’Hagan MBE, Chief Executive Officer, Core Systems Ltd	Room 15, Palace of Westminster
11:00am	Oral Evidence Session DCLG's consultation on National Planning Policy Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Department for Communities and Local Government	The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
2:00pm	Oral Evidence Session Flooding: Cooperation across Government Tim Kersley, Head of Asset Management Strategy, Network Rail Jo Harrison, Asset Management Director, United Utilities Hugh Ellis, Head of Policy, Town and Country Planning Association Tom Jeynes, Sustainable Development Manager (Humber), Associated British Ports Chris Woodroofe, Head of Passenger Operations, Gatwick Airport Councillor Steve Sweeney, Yorkshire Regional Flood Committee and Calderdale Council Ian Glover, Environment Sustainability Manager, National Grid Eamon Lally, Principal Policy Adviser, Local Government Association Ivan Le Fevre, Head of Environment, Highways England	The Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House
2:15pm	Oral Evidence Session Match Fixing in Tennis Mr Nigel Willerton, Director of Integrity, Tennis Integrity Unit, International Tennis Federation Mr Chris Kermode, Executive Chairman and President, ATP Mr Mark Young, Vice Chairman and Chief Legal and Media Officer, ATP	Room 15, Palace of Westminster
2:15pm	Oral Evidence Session The renewable sector in Scotland Niall Stuart, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables Andy Kerr, Executive Director, Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation Professor Keith Bell, Co-Director, UK Energy Research Centre Simon Skillings, Senior Associate, E3G	Room 8, Palace of Westminster
2:40pm	Oral Evidence Session The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's administration and funding of its human rights work overseas Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns, DBE, Minister of State Rob Fenn, Head of the Human Rights and Democracy Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Paul Williams, Director of Multilateral Policy, Foreign and Commonwealth Office	Room 6, Palace of Westminster
2:45pm	Oral Evidence Session Private Members’ Bills David Natzler, Clerk of the House Fergus Reid, Clerk of Private Members' Bills Ruth Fox, Director and Head of Research, Hansard Society	Room 16, Palace of Westminster
4:15pm	Oral Evidence Session Broadcasting in Wales Edward Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, Department for Culture, Media and Sport Alun Cairns MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office	The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

House of Lords

Main Chamber

Time	Business
3:00pm	Oral questions Impact of frozen pensions on people who wish to move overseas - Baroness Benjamin
	Oral questions Race equality at NHS senior management and board level - Baroness Hussein-Ece
	Oral questions Protecting the integrity of sports events from doping and illegal gambling - Lord Addington
	Oral questions Guidance to local authorities regarding procurement of and investment in fossil fuel holdings - Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
	Legislation Scotland Bill - Report stage (day 1) - Lord Dunlop
	Motion Motion that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Immigration Act 2014 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2016, laid before the House on 11 January, be annulled - Baroness Hamwee
	Motion Immigration Act 2014 (Commencement No. 6) Order 2016, laid before the House on 11 January - motion to regret - Lord Rosser

Full Parliamentary calendar

Grand Committee

Date	Business
No business announced

Full Parliamentary calendar

Select Committee

Time	Business	Venue
10:00am	Oral Evidence Session Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union (at 10:15 AM) Mr. David Gauke, MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, HM Treasury Mr. Jonathan Black, Director - Europe, HM Treasury	Room 4, Palace of Westminster
10:15am	Private Meeting	Room 1, Palace of Westminster
10:30am	Private Meeting	Room 2, Palace of Westminster
10:30am	Private Meeting	Room 4A, Palace of Westminster
10:30am	Private Meeting	Room 2A, Palace of Westminster
10:30am	Private Meeting	Room 3, Palace of Westminster
3:30pm	Private Meeting	Room 3, Palace of Westminster

More about committees

Select committees

Both Houses establish select committees to conduct inquiries and to produce reports on a range of matters, from the conduct of Government to specialist subject areas. Information on their work can be found on the select committee page.

Legislative committees

Both Houses refer legislation to committees for detailed discussion and approval. These committees are part of the process of making laws and include public bill committees, delegated legislation committees and committees on private bills. There is more in Bills and Legislation.

Other committees

Some other committees are established either by statute of either House, with a range of specific functions. These committees can be found through Committees A-Z.

Guides to committees

The About Parliament section of our site provides information on the types of Parliamentary committees and their work.

Related information

How do House of Lords Select Committees work?

Watch an overview of the work of Lords Select Committees, the influence they have and the impact of their reports and recommendations.

Video: House of Lords Select Committees overview

How do House of Commons Select Committees work?

This short film explains the role and impact of select committees of the House of Commons, their membership, how they conduct inquiries, what it's like to be a witness and how you can get involved.

Select Committees of the House of Commons film