@T.R.O.Y. wrote:Yes makes sense on the scammer point Sluffy. Thanks for digging out that link.
Select committees are an important part of the democratic process in this country, it’s all part of policy. The problem with bypassing these until it’s all over is that by then it’s too late and given the importance of the current issue that’s a risk not worth taking.
You're welcome. As I say if you want any links posting up before your week is up just say and I'll get around to it if no one else has already done so.
I believe you are wrong, or at least used to wrong terminology, when you say selected committees (SC's) "are all part of policy" - they are not.
The government of the day creates the policy which is enacted in law when it has successfully passed through Parliament, where the policy is challenged democratically through the opposition party voting on /making amendments to it
SC's are generally responsible for overseeing the work of government departments - and are not part of the policy making machinery as such. For instance they played no part in Blair's Labour Government going to war over 'weapons of mass destruction', the vital part they played was delving into the matter AFTER the event - not prior or coterminous to it, as you seem to be implying.
SC's aren't there to be part of/create policy, nor even challenge it, - that's a matter for all political parties at Parliament to vote on - they are there to oversea that the government departments have done things properly in the determination of policy that has been enacted, or has fallen short of what the policy had intended to achieve.
Government has passed legislation in respect of coronavirus and SC's can and will no doubt look to see that everything was done for the right reasons but as coronavirus is amongst us and spreading as it is, then I believe it's certainly far too early to make a reasoned judgement as to how well or not the relevant government departments have dealt with the policy formulation to deal with it, nor is even the right vehicle to do so.
Much more likely in my opinion is that a public Inquiry will be held once the virus is beaten in much the same way as the Chilcot Inquiry was held in respect of the Iraq War and following the Butler Review into the 'weapons of mass destruction'.
These things are done after the event - not leading up to or during them.
Political comment however can be made at anytime but personally I don't think it is in the nations interest for party politics to be in place whilst we are in effect in a 'war' environment.
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