United Kingdom

Oversight

Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities

Oversight tools

Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The House of Commons can order members of the government, who are MPs, to attend the House or select committees. However, the House cannot order the attendance of a member of the House of Lords (Erskine May, Parliamentary Practice, 25th edition, 2019, para 38.34).

Attendance of Members and Officers
https://erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/5916/attendance-of-members-and-officers

Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
in practice, the Government take the view that civil servants give evidence “on behalf of their ministers and under their direction”. Ministers therefore decide which official should represent them (Erskine May, para 38.35).

The Committee on Public Accounts normally takes evidence from permanent secretaries of government departments, as accounting officers (Erskine May, para 38.65).

Ministers decide which officials attend committees in both Houses.

Powers of select committees - MP's Guide to Procedure
https://guidetoprocedure.parliament.uk/collections/luhXGjBq/powers-of-select-committees
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Appointments may be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pre-appointment-scrutiny-by-house-of-commons-select-commi...

There are a very small number of appointments, generally for independent bodies, that the House of Commons has to approve before they can be made. And very unusually, the chair of the Office of Budget Responsibility is appointed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, “with the consent of the Treasury Committee of the House of Commons” (see Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act 2011 (chapter 4), Schedule 1, para 1).
Number of written questions asked, per year
53,961 (2022)
See historical data for this field.
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
53,773 (2022)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
The House of Commons maintains statistics on written questions by parliamentary session rather than by year (e.g. 2012-2013, 2013-2014 etc.).
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
271 (2022)
See historical data for this field.

Head of State and/or Government

Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament does not play a role
Notes
The Head of Government (e.g. the Prime Minister) is appointed by His Majesty the King. The Prime Minister has to display the support of a majority in the House of Commons, though there is no formal role in his or her appointment as Prime Minister.
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament does not play a role
Notes
Her Majesty the King is Head of State.

Impeachment and confidence motions

Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
Other (please specify)
Notes
Misconduct encompassing criminal behaviour would be referred to the police. Each House has a code of conduct that all members, including Ministers, are expected to comply with. Complaints about breaches of the respective codes are dealt with by the relevant House’s Standard Commissioner and Standards Committee. Both Houses have the power to apply penalties for breach of the code of conduct. The House of Commons has the power to expel a Member.
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
See House of Commons Committee on Standards and House of Lords Committee for Privileges and Conduct.
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Upper chamber
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011.

Confidence motions: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn02873/
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No
Dissolving chambers
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber