Reimagining Scrutiny

This chapter seeks to reimagine scrutiny by considering what effective scrutiny would look like, and what would need to change in parliament to move further towards it. It starts by noting that what is unique about parliamentary scrutiny is the notion of democratic accountability. It then sets out the principles of what makes scrutiny effective – including the gathering and interrogating of information, connecting parliament to the public and other relevant activity inside and outside Westminster. Further, it has to be engaging for Members, and have an impact on the Government. Much of what can be reimagined can be done without large scale structural or procedural change, as shown by the ongoing development of the House of Commons’ select committee system which has captured the imagination of Members and those who engage with it. The chapter concludes that reimagined parliamentary scrutiny needs to impact the government. In essence this means that scrutiny has to be ‘good’ for government to welcome it, and government must be open to scrutiny in order for it to be good.