Committees

Nominations open for the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Chair

4 September 2024

MPs have begun the process of electing a Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee in the new Parliament.

The Speaker announced the timetable for the elections on July 30. The period of nominations will run until 4pm on Monday 9 September, with the ballot scheduled for Wednesday 11 September.

The new Chair will be elected from the Conservative party under the allocation of committee chairs to political parties which was agreed by the House on 30 July 2024.  

Since 2010, most committee chairs have been elected by the whole House, by a system of alternative vote and by secret ballot. To be valid, nominations must contain a signed statement made by the candidate declaring their willingness to stand.

It must be accompanied by the signatures of 15 MPs elected to the Commons as members of the same political party as the candidate (or 10 per cent of the MPs elected to the House as members of that party, whichever is the lower). More than 15 signatures can be collected but only the first 15 valid signatures are printed. Members may only nominate one candidate per select committee.

Nominations may be accompanied by the signatures of up to five MPs elected to the House as members of any party other than to which the chair is allocated or of no party. Similarly, only five such signatures are printed.

Candidates must declare any relevant interests with their nomination. Valid nominations received each day are published with the next day's Order Paper and will be listed below.

Nominations

Candidate: Sir Bernard Jenkin

Supporters (own party): Jeremy Hunt, Dame Harriett Baldwin, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Dr Caroline Johnson, Mark Garnier, Alberto Costa, George Freeman, Robbie Moore, Sir John Whittingdale, Mr Richard Holden, Neil O’Brien, Graham Stuart

Supporters (other parties or no party): Fabian Hamilton, Barry Gardiner, Liz Saville Roberts, Graham Stringer, Liam Byrne

Relevant interests declared: None

Supporting statement:

SCRUTINY AND HOLDING TO ACCOUNT

Why have Harriet Harman, Lord (George) Robertson, Jeremy Hunt and Iain Duncan Smith, Liam Byrne and Liz Saville-Roberts all endorsed me?

I have a reputation for working cross-party, effectively and consensually. That is how I have always chaired Select Committees.

When last Chair of PACAC, I encouraged the Committee to adopt a mission statement –

“The purpose of PACAC is to scrutinise government and the work of the civil service, to find what lessons can be learned from success and failure, and to hold the government to account for implementing those lessons, in order that the public can have justified public confidence in our democratic system.”

The purpose of the Mission Statement is to help us to develop a consistent and rigorous approach to our work, which is focussed on what is in the public interest. Under Standing Order no 146 (1), PACAC has wide scope to scrutinise across a range of subjects and issues, to such focus is helpful.

The Committee’s specified role includes following up reports referred to Parliament by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), and scrutiny of the work of the Cabinet Office the work of the Cabinet office. PACAC’s official remit is:

“to examine the reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for England, which are laid before this House, and matters in connection therewith; to consider matters relating to the quality and standards of administration provided by civil service departments, and other matters relating to the civil service; and to consider constitutional affairs.”

Forward-looking accountability

As adopted by the Liaison Committee, at the end of the last Parliament –

The term “forward-looking accountability” was coined by Dr Virginia Sharpe in her studies of hospital safety. Forward-looking accountability identifies changes that need to be made and assigns responsibility for making those changes. The accountability is focused around making changes—in organizational systems and management practices—that will meet future needs. (Source: Virginia Sharpe, Accountability: Patient Safety and Policy Reform, 2004)

By adopting this doctrine, PACAC will have more influence over what actually happens in government. This contrasts with the usual calling-out and blaming which dominates adversarial politics.

I will invite the committee to consider the draft mission statement above, and the Committee as a whole will decide an annual programme of scrutiny and reporting, reflecting themes which are of principle concern.

It is particularly important the PACAC should use the reports of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to best effect. This role is core to the Committee’s remit.

Bernard Jenkin

House of Commons

Monday 9th September 2024

Candidate: Simon Hoare

Supporters (own party): James Cartlidge, Edward Argar, Mr Gagan Mohindra, Matt Vickers, Saqib Bhatti, David Mundell, Victoria Atkins, Alicia Kearns, Nigel Huddleston, Kit Malthouse, Sir Jeremy Wright, Dame Karen Bradley

Supporters (other parties or no party): Ruth Cadbury, Gareth Snell, Shaun Davies, Claire Hanna, Mr Alistair Carmichael

Relevant interests declared: None

Supporting statement:

It would be fantastic to have your support to Chair PACAC.  In this very much changed Parliament I believe the Committee needs both an experienced voice AND a fresh pair of eyes.  I bring the experience of Chairing the NI Select Committee for four years – building consensus and fostering cross party working.  I would do the same as PACAC Chair.  I would appoint a Labour colleague as Deputy Chair.  All of the PACAC Committee will be new members.  I would bring the fresh pair of eyes so that we don’t fall into the trap of ‘we used to do it like this’.  That will not deliver progress.  If elected I want the Committee to spend some time to understand the skills, experience and interests of its members.  I want us to spend time to work out a programme of Inquiries which will help deliver better outcomes in public administration and for our constituents.

I was asked to stand by colleagues from across the House.  I turned down a Shadow Minister role in order to put myself forward – such is my commitment to the Select Committees process.  In previous Parliaments, as both a backbencher and Committee Chair, I spoke out without fear or favour.  I will continue to do so.  I will forge a professional and courteous relationship with Ministers and Officials.

As a Welshman (representing North Dorset) I believe in our Union, localism and devolution. I will seek to ensure the Committee’s work on our constitutional settlement involved all our home nations.  Where appropriate, joint working with Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast could be undertaken in order to improve knowledge and understanding.

I am not a tribal, partisan MP.  Instead, I prefer to work with colleagues across the House furthering shared interests and objectives.  I am not a seeker of the ‘gotcha’ moment when hearing from Ministers as witnesses; nor do I yearn for media headlines.  Instead, as a moderate ‘One Nation’ Conservative, I value the role of public service and believe that we do have ‘more in common’ and that our constituents want us working, together, and being on their side.  That is the approach I shall bring to Chair PACAC.

I champion the pivotal part our Civil Service plays in our national life.  As a Minister, I worked with some amazing officials.  Part of PACAC’s role is to ‘scrutinise’ and ‘oversee’ the Civil Service.  I believe I have the right skills and outlook to lead the Committee in this important element of its brief.

A Select Committee discharges its functions on behalf of the whole House, I would always ensure that what the Committee works on reflects the priorities of the House and the legislative timetable of the Government.  Interesting constitutional changes are evolving and welcome opportunities for further development in our EU relations are in the pipeline.  These will be important topics for the Committee to scrutinise. I believe my instincts on them will be welcomed by colleagues.

I would be grateful for your support.  Many thanks, Simon 

Further information  

Image credit: House of Commons