2020–21 Select Committee activity reviewed by Liaison Committee
14 June 2021
The House of Lords Liaison Committee today publishes its report on Committee activity in 2020–21.
- Report: Review of House of Lords investigative and scrutiny committee activity in 2020-21 (HTML)
- Report: Review of House of Lords investigative and scrutiny committee activity in 2020-21 (PDF)
- Liaison Committee
Key points
During 2020–21 there has been a high level of committee activity despite exceptionally difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Committees have been meeting virtually since April 2020 and at the end of the financial year over 1000 witnesses had given evidence to virtual committee meetings. Between April 2020 and March 2021 committees published 81 reports and received 1316 written evidence submissions.
The past year saw the implementation of the final recommendations in relation to restructuring House of Lords committees. At the end of March 2021 the EU Committee and its sub-committees came to an end and 5 new committees were appointed including the Built Environment Committee, Environment and Climate Change Committee, European Affairs Committee, Industry and Regulators Committee and a Justice and Home Affairs Committee. The European Affairs Committee also appointed a sub-committee on the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol. The Liaison Committee had earlier in the year appointed a sessional committee on international agreements.
2020-21 saw the appointment of 3 special inquiry committees; A national plan for sport and recreation committee, Risk assessment and risk planning committee and a Youth unemployment committee. Special committees were also appointed to look at the long-term implications of COVID-19 and common frameworks.
2020 saw the start of a new follow-up procedure for special inquiry committees. Starting in October 2020, the Liaison Committee has held follow-up sessions for three Special Inquiry Committees: the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, the Select Committee on Political Polling and the Select Committee on Financial Exclusion. After each evidence session a report setting out the Liaison Committee’s findings was published.