United Kingdom

House of Commons House of Lords

House of Lords

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government: No

Sources: The House of Lords can order its members to attend but cannot require the attendance of MPs.
Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials: Yes

Sources:
In practice, the Government takes 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: Not applicable

Sources:
The House of Lords is not required to approve any public appointments.
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval: Not applicable
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments: No
Number of written questions asked, per year: 13,082

(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year: 13,062

(2023)

Notes: Statistics on written questions are calculated by financial year.
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year: 99.8%

(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries: Yes
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year: 160

(2023)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government: 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 in the designation of the Head of State: Parliament does not play a role

Notes: Her Majesty the King is Head of State.

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: No
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: Lower chamber

Notes: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/general/dissolution/

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Other
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber

Upper chamber

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.

Sources: See House of Commons Committee on Standards and House of Lords Committee for Privileges and Conduct.

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: The whole Government

The Head of Government

Individual members of the Executive
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber

Sources:

Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011.

Confidence motions: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn02873/

Updated at	Number of written questions asked, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	13,082
2022-01	7,466
2021-01	8,715
2020-01	11,179
2019-01	6,197
2018-01	8,093
2017-01	7,236
2016-01	7,395
2015-01	7,380
2014-01	6,477
2013-01	6,626

Updated at	Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	13,062
2022-01	7,441
2021-01	8,674
2020-01	11,114
2019-01	6,234
2018-01	8,085

Updated at	Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	99.8%
2022-01	99.7%
2021-01	99.5%
2020-01	99.4%
2019-01	100.6%
2018-01	99.9%

Updated at	Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	160
2022-01	161
2021-01	193
2020-01	194
2019-01	173
2018-01	180

United Kingdom

House of Lords

Oversight

Oversight tools

Head of State and/or Government

Impeachment and confidence motions

Impeachment procedure

No confidence processes

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments

Historical data for Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval

Historical data for Number of written questions asked, per year

Historical data for Number of written questions answered by the government, per year

Historical data for Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year

Historical data for Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year