The work of committees in 2007-08 : first report of session 2008-09, report, together with appendices and formal minutes

The current structure of select committees is 30 years old this year.

The scale and scope of their work has changed enormously since their creation, as has their public profile.

Overall, the work of select committees is now more focussed, more extensive, more visible, better resourced and more engaged with the public than ever before.

Select committees play a key role on behalf of the public in holding Government and major public figures to account: has public money been wasted?

Are officials serving the public properly? Have Ministers made the right policy decision? Are the consumer's interests properly protected? Is this person suitable to be appointed? This report records the breadth and depth of scrutiny: 326 Members of the House served on select committees during the 2007-08 session, with committees holding 785 public hearings and publishing 387 substantive reports.

It also describes the variety of ways in which committees have carried out their task - developing innovative ways of obtaining information, engaging with the public and publicising their work. The level of achievement can only be sustained if committees have access to sufficient resources and full autonomy in carrying out their work programmes.

One of the most significant pressures on committee resources is the availability of Members, who already face many demands on their time.

These demands are only exacerbated by committees being too large, or too many committees being established.

The Government is seeking to increase Government's accountability to Parliament through a variety of initiatives involving select committees, but a proper balance has to be struck to avoid overloading committees with tasks initiated by Ministers.