Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee

Last updated

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee (PACAC), formerly known as the Public Administration Select Committee, is a committee appointed by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Its primary role is to scrutinize reports from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, monitor the quality of administration in civil service departments, and examine issues relating to the civil service and constitutional affairs. The committee primarily focuses on matters in England and Wales but also considers broader constitutional and administrative issues affecting the United Kingdom.

Contents

PACAC plays a vital role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public administration and governance. Its inquiries often address key concerns about the functioning of government institutions, public service delivery, and the implementation of constitutional principles.


The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee, previously known as the Public Administration Select Committee, is a committee designated by the British House of Commons. Its purpose is to scrutinize reports from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, address issues pertaining to the quality of administration delivered by civil service departments, and explore various matters concerning the civil service, primarily in England and Wales, as well as constitutional affairs.

It is the principal select committee to which Cabinet Office ministers are accountable and thus handles pre appointment and accountability hearings for independent officers, with an independent civil society or cross departmental role, such as the First Civil Service Commissioner, the chair of the UK Statistics Authority and the chair of the Charity Commission.

The committee chooses its own subjects of inquiry, within its overall terms of reference; however, it seeks evidence from a wide variety of individuals and groups with relevant interests and experience. The members of the committee are elected by their peers from any political party, and the committee itself mainly publishes its results through reports and making its recommendations known to the government. [1]

Membership

Membership of the committee is as follows: [2]

MemberPartyConstituency
Simon Hoare MP (Chair) Conservative North Dorset
Richard Baker MP Labour Glenrothes and Mid Fife
Markus Campbell-Savours MP Labour Penrith and Solway
Charlotte Cane MP Liberal Democrats Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Sam Carling MP Labour North West Cambridgeshire
Lauren Edwards MP Labour Rochester and Strood
Peter Lamb MP Labour Crawley
John Lamont MP Conservative Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Richard Quigley MP Labour Isle of Wight West
Luke Taylor MP Liberal Democrats Sutton and Cheam
Michelle Welsh MP Labour Sherwood Forest

Changes since 2024

DateOutgoing Member
& Party		Constituency→New Member
& Party		ConstituencySource
6 January 2025 John Grady MP (Labour) Glasgow East → Sam Carling MP (Labour) North West Cambridgeshire Hansard

2019–2024 Parliament

The chair was elected on 29 January 2020, with the members of the committee being announced on 2 March 2020. [3] [4]

MemberPartyConstituency
William Wragg MP (chair) Conservative [a] Hazel Grove
Ronnie Cowan MP SNP Inverclyde
Jackie Doyle-Price MP (chair) Conservative Thurrock
Chris Evans MP Labour and Co-op Islwyn
Rachel Hopkins MP Labour Luton South
David Jones MP Conservative Clwyd West
David Mundell MP Conservative Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP Labour Brighton Kemptown
Tom Randall MP Conservative Gedling
Karin Smyth MP Labour Bristol South
John Stevenson MP Conservative Carlisle
  1. ↑ Whip suspended from 9 April 2024 until resignation as chair.

Changes 2019-2024

DateOutgoing Member
and Party		Constituency→New Member
and Party		ConstituencySource
21 September 2020 Chris Evans MP (Labour and Co-op) Islwyn → Navendu Mishra MP (Labour) Stockport Hansard
22 February 2021 Navendu Mishra MP (Labour) Stockport → John McDonnell MP (Labour) Hayes and Harlington Hansard
17 May 2022 Rachel Hopkins MP (Labour) Luton South → Beth Winter MP (Labour) Cynon Valley Hansard
21 November 2022 David Mundell MP (Conservative) Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale → Damien Moore MP (Conservative) Southport Hansard
6 December 2022 Jackie Doyle-Price MP (Conservative) Thurrock → Jo Gideon MP (Conservative) Stoke-on-Trent Central Hansard
15 April 2024 William Wragg MP (Chair, Independent) Hazel Grove →Vacant Hansard
8 May 2024Vacant→ Jackie Doyle-Price MP (Chair, Conservative) Thurrock Hansard

2017–2019 Parliament

The election of the chair took place on 12 July 2017, with the members of the committee being announced on 11 September 2017. [5] [6]

MemberPartyConstituency
Bernard Jenkin MP (Chair) Conservative Harwich and North Essex
Ronnie Cowan MP SNP Inverclyde
Paul Flynn MP Labour Newport West
Marcus Fysh MP Conservative Yeovil
Cheryl Gillan MP Conservative Chesham and Amersham
Kelvin Hopkins MP Labour Luton North
Rupa Huq MP Labour Ealing Central and Acton
David Jones MP Conservative Clwyd West
Sandy Martin MP Labour Ipswich
David Morris MP Conservative Morecambe and Lunesdale

Changes 2017-2019

DateOutgoing Member
and Party		Constituency→New Member
and Party		ConstituencySource
15 January 2018New seat→ Sarah Champion MP (Labour) Rotherham Hansard
4 June 2018 Sarah Champion MP (Labour) Rotherham → Tulip Siddiq MP (Labour) Hampstead and Kilburn Hansard
17 February 2019 Paul Flynn MP (Labour) Newport West →VacantDeath of member [7]
25 February 2019 Sandy Martin MP (Labour) Ipswich → Eleanor Smith MP (Labour) Wolverhampton South West Hansard

2015–2017 Parliament

The election of the chair took place on 18 June 2015, with the members of the committee being announced on 6 July 2015. [8] [9]

MemberPartyConstituency
Bernard Jenkin MP (Chair) Conservative Harwich and North Essex
Ronnie Cowan MP SNP Inverclyde
Oliver Dowden MP Conservative Hertsmere
Paul Flynn MP Labour Newport West
Cheryl Gillan MP Conservative Chesham and Amersham
Kate Hoey MP Labour Vauxhall
Kelvin Hopkins MP Labour Luton North
David Jones MP Conservative Clwyd West
Gerald Jones MP Labour Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
Tom Tugendhat MP Conservative Tonbridge and Malling
Andrew Turner MP Conservative Isle of Wight

Changes 2015-2017

DateOutgoing Member
and Party		Constituency→New Member
and Party		ConstituencySource
31 October 2016 Oliver Dowden MP (Conservative) Hertsmere → Marcus Fysh MP (Conservative) Yeovil Hansard
David Jones MP (Conservative) Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Adam Holloway MP (Conservative) Gravesham
Tom Tugendhat MP (Conservative) Tonbridge and Malling Dan Poulter MP (Conservative) Central Suffolk and North Ipswich
19 December 2016 Adam Holloway MP (Conservative) Gravesham → John Stevenson MP (Conservative) Carlisle Hansard

2010-2015 Parliament

The election of the chair took place on 10 June 2010, with the members of the committee being announced on 12 July 2010. [10] [11]

MemberPartyConstituency
Bernard Jenkin MP (Chair) Conservative Harwich and North Essex
Kevin Brennan MP Labour Cardiff West
Nick de Bois MP Conservative Enfield North
Michael Dugher MP Labour Barnsley East
Charlie Elphicke MP Conservative Dover
Paul Flynn MP Labour Newport West
Robert Halfon MP Conservative Harlow
Greg Mulholland MPLiberal Leeds North West
Charles Walker MP Conservative Broxbourne

Changes 2010-2015

DateOutgoing Member
and Party		Constituency→New Member
and Party		ConstituencySource
26 July 2010New seat→ David Heyes MP (Labour) Ashton-under-Lyne Hansard
Jon Trickett MP (Labour) Hemsworth
2 November 2010 Jon Trickett MP (Labour) Hemsworth → Lindsay Roy MP (Labour) Glenrothes Hansard
17 January 2011 Kevin Brennan MP (Labour) Cardiff West → Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour) Luton North Hansard
9 May 2011 Charles Walker MP (Conservative) Broxbourne → Alun Cairns MP (Conservative) Vale of Glamorgan Hansard
5 December 2011 Nick de Bois MP (Conservative) Enfield North → Priti Patel MP (Conservative) Witham Hansard
10 December 2012 Michael Dugher MP (Labour) Barnsley East → Steve Reed MP (Labour Co-op) Croydon North Hansard
4 November 2013 Charlie Elphicke MP (Conservative) Dover → Andrew Turner MP (Conservative) Isle of Wight Hansard
11 November 2013 Steve Reed MP (Labour) Croydon North → Sheila Gilmore MP(Labour) Edinburgh East Hansard
12 May 2014 Alun Cairns MP (Conservative) Vale of Glamorgan → Cheryl Gillan MP (Conservative) Chesham and Amersham Hansard
12 May 2014 Robert Halfon MP (Conservative) Harlow → Adam Holloway MP (Conservative) Gravesham Hansard
23 June 2014 Priti Patel MP (Conservative) Witham → Nigel Evans MP (Conservative) Ribble Valley Hansard

Reports

A March 2004 report considered the prerogative powers of Ministers. [12]

A major report published in July 2011 addressed procurement of Information Technology by the government and found there was an over-reliance "on a small 'oligopoly' of large suppliers", which some witnesses before the Committee had described as a 'cartel'. [13] An independent comment given prominence in the report described the UK as "a world leader in ineffective IT schemes for government". [14] The Office of Fair Trading investigated but did not find sufficient evidence either to confirm that suppliers had been acting in breach of competition law, or to exonerate them. [15] The government welcomed "the Committee's interest in and support for government Information and Communication Technology" and in response noted in particular that the government was "in the process of breaking the contractual lock-in which places the majority of ICT business with a small group of major systems integrators", and "working to improve the quality of its ICT management information". [16]

Reports published in 2021 include The role and status of the Prime Minister’s Office , published in June 2021. [17]

In 2022 the committee reported on government ethics. Committee chair William Wragg stated a "robust" system was needed to uphold standards "with proper sanctions for those who break the rules". The committee was also concerned the government maintained its coming ethics adviser would not look into what happened round Suella Braverman's resignation. MP's on the committee stated the government should not be able to decide what the adviser, not yet appointed, could investigate. In its report, the committee also stated there should be legal action against former ministers who broke rules through taking certain jobs after leaving officed. Former ministers should look for advice from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments but ministers cannot be made to accept this committee's advice. [18] The record of the current government was strongly criticised. The committee want the ethics adviser to be able to carry out inquiries into historical behaviour. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Committee of Public Accounts is a select committee of the British House of Commons. It is responsible for overseeing government expenditures, and to ensure they are effective and honest. The committee is seen as a crucial mechanism for ensuring transparency and accountability in government financial operations, having been described by Professor the Lord Hennessy as "the queen of the select committees...[which] by its very existence exert[s] a cleansing effect in all government departments".

The Foreign Affairs Select Committee is one of many select committees of the British House of Commons, which scrutinises the expenditure, administration and policy of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Defence Select Committee is one of the Select Committees of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, having been established in 1979. It examines the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies, including the British Armed Forces. The Committee's remit does not generally review Defence Intelligence which instead falls under the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.

The Home Affairs Select Committee is a departmental select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The Health and Social Care Select Committee is a Departmental Select Committee of the British House of Commons, the lower house of the United Kingdom Parliament. Its remit is to examine the policy, administration and expenditure of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its associated agencies and public bodies. The Clerks of the Committee are Previn Desai and Joanna Dodd.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The committee's remit is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Northern Ireland Office and its associated public bodies. Select Committees work in both houses and report on governmental departments and economic affairs.

The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Wales Office, as well as relations with the Senedd. The members of the committee are usually Welsh MPs.

The House of Commons Treasury Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The committee is responsible for examining and scrutinizing the expenditure, administration and policy of HM Treasury. This includes its agencies and associated bodies, including HM Revenue and Customs, the Bank of England, the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Royal Mint.

The Administration Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It has a remit "to consider the services provided for and by the House of Commons".

The Housing and Communities Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the work, the expenditure, administration and policies of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and its associated public bodies.

The International Development Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the international aid functions of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and public bodies which work with the Office in relation to international aid and official development assistance. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact reports to this Select Committee.

The Transport Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Transport and its associated public bodies. Its powers, like those of other select committees, are provided for under standing order 152 of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons and its membership is limited to 11 members.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EFRA) is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the Committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated public bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scottish Affairs Select Committee</span> UK House of Commons select committee

The Scottish Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, and relations with the Scottish Parliament. It also looks at the administration and expenditure of the Advocate General for Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice Select Committee</span> UK House of Commons select committee

The Justice Select Committee of the United Kingdom is a select committee of the House of Commons which scrutinizes the policy, administration, and spending of the Ministry of Justice. In addition, the committee examines the work of the Law Officers of the Crown, the Serious Fraud Office, and the Crown Prosecution Service. The committee also reviews draft Sentencing Guidelines issued by the Sentencing Council

The Education Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Education and any associated public bodies.

The Business and Trade Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Business and Trade, and any departmental bodies.

The Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

The Women and Equalities Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was established following the 2015 general election to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Government Equalities Office on equalities issues.

In 2011, the government of the United Kingdom acknowledged that a constitutional convention had developed whereby the House of Commons should have an opportunity to debate the matter before troops are committed. It said that it proposed to observe that convention except when there was an emergency and such action would not be appropriate.

References

  1. ↑ "Public Administration Select Committee - role". parliament.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee". UK Parliament. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "Speaker's Statement: Select Committee Chairs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 670. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 29 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 672. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 2 March 2020.
  5. ↑ "Speaker's Statement: Select Committee Chairs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 627. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 12 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Business without Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 628. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 11 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Tributes as Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn dies aged 84". BBC News. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Speaker's Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 597. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 18 June 2015.
  9. ↑ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 598. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 6 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Committees". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 511. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 10 June 2010.
  11. ↑ "Speaker's Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Vol. 513. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. 12 July 2010.
  12. ↑ "Taming the Prerogative: Strengthening Ministerial Accountability to Parliament" (PDF). House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee. 4 March 2004. p. 5. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  13. ↑ House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, Government and IT - "a recipe for rip-offs": time for a new approach, Volume 1, page 3, published 28 July 2011, accessed 30 July 2021
  14. ↑ Dunleavy, P., Margetts, H., Tinkler, J., and Bastow, S. (2006), Digital Era Governance: IT corporations, the state, and e-government, Oxford University Press.p. 70, quoted in Government and IT - "a recipe for rip-offs": time for a new approach, Volume 1, page 6
  15. ↑ Feaster-Gee, T., Kilduff, D., Parting shot from OFT regarding supply of ICT to the public sector, Walker Morris, published 16 April 2014, archived 15 May 2021, accessed 15 November 2022
  16. ↑ UK Government, Memorandum to the Public Administration Select Committee. Government Response to the Public Administration Select Committee’s report: Government and IT – "a recipe for rip-offs": time for a new approach: Further Report, with the Government Response to the Committee’s Twelfth Report of Session 2010 - 12, March 2012, accessed 26 November 2022
  17. ↑ UK Parliament, The role and status of the Prime Minister’s Office, published 9 June 2021, accessed 30 July 2021
  18. ↑ Suella Braverman reappointment sets dangerous precedent - MPs BBC
  19. ↑ Braverman return sets ‘dangerous precedent’, says Commons committee The Guardian
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.