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Liaison Committee
17 July 2023
Lead MP
Christopher Chope
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Parliamentary Procedure
Other Contributors: 7
At a Glance
Christopher Chope raised concerns about liaison committee in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Chope argues against expanding the powers of the Liaison Committee beyond its original remit as outlined in Standing Order No. 145. He emphasises that the current motion seeks to appoint specialist advisers for an inquiry on strategic thinking in government, which he believes should be handled by other Select Committees or existing parliamentary structures.
Christchurch
Chope criticises the proposed changes as mission creep and argues that the Liaison Committee's role is already well-defined in Standing Order No. 145, which does not justify additional powers or funding for specialist advisers. He points out that other Select Committees are better suited to conduct inquiries into strategic thinking within their specific areas of responsibility.
Spellar intervenes multiple times to suggest that the Public Accounts Committee and a joint strategic committee could be more appropriate bodies for such an inquiry, given their existing remits and expertise in handling issues related to government strategy and public administration.
Rosie Winterton
Lab
North Lincolnshire
Clarified that it is customary for Members to be present at the start of a speech if they are going to intervene. Admonished John Spellar for not adhering to this custom.
John Spellar
Lab
Warley
Asked whether there has been any reference from Defence Committee on whether this move is appropriate, and inquired about potential hearings and evidence sessions by the Liaison Committee.
Bill Wiggin
Con
North Herefordshire
Welcomed progress in strategic thinking within Government and acknowledged Bernard Jenkin's role in promoting it.
Bernard Jenkin
Con
Harwich and North Essex
Acknowledged the support among Select Committee Chairs for the inquiry. Emphasised the importance of obtaining information on cross-departmental issues, precedents for Liaison Committee inquiries, and the relevance of international best practices in strategic thinking.
Christchurch
Questioned the wide scope of terms of reference set by the Liaison Committee for written evidence submissions and called for a focus on Select Committees' effectiveness within their remit.
Government Response
Commended the motion to the House. The appointment will be made within the current budget envelope, limiting mission creep.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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