Committee of Selection (House of Commons)
The Committee of Selection is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Unlike the Commons' other select committees, the Committee of Selection exists by virtue of the House's Standing Orders for Private Business, its rules for bills that affect only specific organizations or individuals.[1] Despite that, the committee is best known for appointing members of committees established under resolutions of the House and the Standing Orders for Public Business.
Members of the Committee of Selection are nominated by a motion tabled and moved by a member of the Government. In the same way, the Government also nominates members to the Liaison Committee, the Committee on Standards, the Committee of Privileges, and committees established by a temporary standing order, although on occasion the Committee of Selection has been tasked with performing such nominations.[2] As the Committee of Selection is not covered by Standing Order No. 122B,[3] its chair is chosen by the members of the committee itself unless the House orders otherwise.[4]
After the non-Chair members of other select committees have been chosen via elections within each party,[5] a motion setting out membership of each committee is tabled and moved on behalf of the Committee of Selection by one of its members.[2]
With few exceptions, notably the Committee of Selection itself, the standards committee, the privileges committee and the Liaison Committee, only members of the committee acting on its behalf may nominate new members to committees or propose the discharge of members. Appointments to select committees are made through motions put before the House of Commons, while appointments to general committees (such as public bill committees) are made by the committee's own authority.[6] With respect to private business, all private bills are automatically referred to the committee, which in turn either refers unopposed bills to the Unopposed Bill Committee and refers opposed bills to committees whose members it also appoints.[1]
Role in the selection of public bill committees
[edit]The Committee of Selection performs a crucial, yet often overlooked function in scrutinising legislation. The current structure of the committee is dominated by party whips. This means that the government effectively chooses which MPs will scrutinise its bills. Advocates of reform highlight that the current organisation of the committee means that MPs who are subject specialists or may hold views contrary to the leadership of their party can be kept off public bill committees. Suggested reforms include limiting the number of whips that can serve on the committee and allowing MPs a vote on public bill committee nominations.[7]
Chairs
[edit]Committee chairs include those listed below.[8]
| Name | Start | End | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemary McKenna | 2005 | 2010 | Labour | Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | |
| Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 2010 | 2015 | Conservative | The Cotswolds | |
| Bill Wiggin | 24 June 2015 | 30 May 2024 | Conservative | North Herefordshire | |
| Jessica Morden | 11 September 2024 | present | Labour | Newport East | |
Current members
[edit]Members are elected at the beginning of each session. As of May 2026 the committee's membership is as follows:[9]
Changes since 2024
[edit]Former members
[edit]2019-2024
[edit]| Member | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Wiggin MP (chair) | Conservative | North Herefordshire | |
| Jo Churchill MP | Conservative | Bury St Edmunds | |
| Chris Elmore MP | Labour | Ogmore | |
| Nigel Huddleston MP | Conservative | Mid Worcestershire | |
| Lilian Greenwood MP | Labour | Nottingham South | |
| Rebecca Harris MP | Conservative | Castle Point | |
| Mark Tami MP | Labour | Alyn and Deeside | |
| Richard Thomson MP | Scottish National Party | Gordon | |
| Craig Whittaker MP | Conservative | Calder Valley | |
2017-2019
[edit]| Member | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Wiggin MP (Chair) | Conservative | North Herefordshire | |
| Alan Campbell MP | Labour | Tynemouth | |
| Jackie Doyle-Price MP | Conservative | Thurrock | |
| David Evennett MP | Conservative | Erith and Crayford | |
| Anne Milton MP | Conservative | Guildford | |
| Jessica Morden MP | Labour | Newport East | |
| Julian Smith MP | Conservative | Skipton and Ripon | |
| Mark Tami MP | Labour | Alyn and Deeside | |
| Owen Thompson MP | Scottish National Party | Midlothian | |
2015-2017
[edit]| Member | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP (Chair) | Conservative | Cotswold | |
| Heidi Alexander MP | Labour | Lewisham East | |
| Tom Blenkinsop MP | Labour | Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland | |
| Alan Campbell MP | Labour | Tynemouth | |
| David Evennett MP | Conservative | Erith and Crayford | |
| Greg Hands MP | Conservative | Chelsea and Fulham | |
| Mark Hunter MP | Liberal Democrat | Cheadle | |
| Anne Milton MP | Conservative | Guildford | |
| Mark Tami MP | Labour | Alyn and Deeside | |
2010-2015
[edit]2005-2010
[edit]| Member | Party | Constituency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemary McKenna MP (Chair) | Labour | Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East | |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 House of Commons Standing Order (Private Business) 109–111
- 1 2 "Nomination of members". Erskine May - UK Parliament. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ↑ "Standing Orders of the House of Commons (Public Business) 2024". UK Parliament. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ↑ "Election of Chairs by the House". Erskine May - UK Government. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ↑ "Election of select committee chairs and members in the House of Commons". Institute for Government. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ↑ Standing Orders (Public Business) 85 & 86
- ↑ House of Commons – Political and Constitutional Reform Committee – Revisiting Rebuilding the House: the impact of the Wright reforms
- ↑ https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/381/committee-of-selection/membership/former/
- ↑ "Committee of Selection". UK Parliament. Retrieved 31 October 2024.