Select Committees: Agents of Change

Abstract

Some select committees are increasingly adopting campaigning characteristics, acting not just as scrutineers of government but also as high-profile agents of change in the public and private sectors. The popularity of such committees with members, the media and the public means this trend is likely to continue. This will increase the already evident strains on the committee powers and the wider established framework within which committees operate. This article considers the implications for the future of select committees.