ABSTRACT
Competition for membership of select committees is keen, particularly for the high profile committees. The political party whips have great influence, if not total control, over membership. The Committee of Selection, itself a select committee, is made up of senior Members of the House drawn from all political parties. The party whips make nominations to the committee which in turn reports to the House for approval. The strength of each political party overall in the House is reflected, largely but not totally accurately, in the membership of select committees, thus giving to the committee a legitimacy approximate to that of the House as a whole. In July 2000, the Liaison Committee recommended that control over membership of select committees by the whips should be ended and appointments be placed in the hands of a panel of Members of Parliament. The government rejected the proposal.
