What Are Select Committees For?

Abstract The modern select committee system in the UK House of Commons was introduced in 1979 to deepen opportunities for backbench MPs to hold government to account and strengthen Parliament vis‐à‐vis the executive. However, select committees play a much bigger role in parliamentary life. In this article, based on over a decade of research, I argue that committees have four main roles. Alongside their scrutiny role, select committees exist to integrate democratic concerns into parliamentary processes; to gather, analyse and use evidence to contribute to parliamentary and public debate; and to professionalise and structure the working lives of backbench MPs. These roles are not necessarily always in harmony with one another, and push committee work in different directions. This more holistic approach to understanding select committees is vital to better understanding their value in the UK parliamentary system, and for identifying pathways to enhance their effectiveness.