Annual report for 2003 : first report of session 2003-04, report, together with appendices and formal minutes

The Liaison Committee comprises of the 34 chairmen of the individual House select committees, and its role is to consider general matters relating to the work of select committees and their scrutiny of government.

This report details the activities of select committees during 2003, including including greater pre-legislative scrutiny due to an increasing number of draft Bills.

Other developments include the growth of online public consultations, extended webcasting and modernised report formats.

At the Committee's request, a review of the Government's rules on access to information requested by select committees is to be undertaken.

In the light of the access to persons and documents given to the Hutton Inquiry, the report notes the need for this to be extended to Parliament, including fuller access to Downing Street policy advisers, current policy reviews and other documents.