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Special Committees
Sometimes Special or Joint Select Committees may be formed to examine and report on Reports which have been tabled in Parliament and deemed to require further discussion.
Size of Committees
A Sessional Select Committee can have no less than six members, and must reflect the composition of Parliament.
Witnesses
All Select Committees with the exception of the Standing Orders and House Committees have the power to send for persons, papers and records. Witnesses may be summoned by the Clerk on behalf of the House.
The Committee usually invites witnesses whom it feels can contribute to the subject matter under discussion. Sometimes notices are placed in the media inviting interested persons to make written submissions to the Committees. The Committee then decides which, if any of those persons who made submissions, it wishes to hear.
With the exception of the Standing Finance Committee, Ministers are rarely called to give evidence before a Committee.
Selection of Committee Chairman
The Standing Orders of the House stipulates who should be the Chairman for some Committees. For example, the Speaker is designated as Chairman of the Standing Orders Committee and the Committee of Privileges; the Leader of the House is Chairman of the House Committee.
Although the Standing Orders provide that other Select Committees may elect their own Chairman, the Chairman is usually identified by the House.
With the exception of the Public Accounts Committee which is chaired by the Opposition, and these mentioned previously which are chaired by the Leader of the House or the Speaker, all other Committees are chaired by the Leader of the House or the Speaker, all other Committees are chaired by the Government members. With respect tot he oversight Committees the Chairman decides on the subject matter to be dealt with, and indicates relevant persons/organizations who should attend the various sittings to give evidence.
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