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Much of the detailed
work of the House of Commons is carried out by
committees. Committees may be of three kinds -
committees of the whole House, special committees and
standing committees. At one time all bills were referred
to committee of the whole House, but since the reform of
the standing committee system in 1968 most of them are
now referred to standing committees. Special committees
are appointed on an ad hoc basis and consist of not more
than 15 members. The standing committees are the essence
of the present committee system and the y have three
distinct functions which may be described as
legislative, financial and investigative.
The Standing Orders
provide for 18 standing committees, most of them
covering a specific subject area. In addition there are
three standing joint committees composed of members of
both Houses, one of which is concerned with the scrutiny
of delegated legislation - that is, regulations made by
the government under the authority of an Act of
Parliament.
Bills, the estimates
of government departments and subjects of inquiry are
referred to the standing committees in accordance with
their various subject areas. In dealing with bills
and estimates the standing committees remove a great
deal of detailed work from the floor of the House. In
undertaking special investigations they are pursuing
their more traditional function of inquiry. Standing
committees are empowered to call witnesses and appoint
sub-committees, and they are sometimes authorized by the
House to travel and hire expert assistance. All
committees report directly to the House, their ultimate
power being one of recommendation only.
Such control over
finance as the House is now able to exercise is due in
large measure to the committee system. the Standing
Committees have the opportunity of scrutinizing the
details of proposed departmental spending and reporting
to the House before the money is voted. The Standing
Committee on Pubic Accounts, whose chairman is by custom
a member of the opposition, has the special function of
examining public expenditure after it has been incurred.
In carrying out its investigation it is assisted by the
Auditor General who makes an annual report top
parliament. The Committee examines witnesses from the
departments of government and draws the attention of the
House to any irregularities it might discover. |
