Dissolution of Parliament: recent developments
A research briefing examining recent developments in relation to the law concerning the dissolution of Parliament

On 25 June 1979 the House of Commons agreed to establish a new system of departmental select committees to scrutinise the expenditure, administration and policy of government departments. This paper briefly sets out the historical background to the departmental select committees system before charting their development over the last 30 years, considering evaluations made of the system and recent proposals for reform.
The Departmental Select Committee System (466 KB , PDF)
On 25 June 1979 the House of Commons agreed to establish a new system of departmental select committees to scrutinise the expenditure, administration and policy of government departments. This paper briefly sets out the historical background to the departmental select committees system before charting their development over the last 30 years, considering evaluations made of the system and recent proposals for reform.
The Departmental Select Committee System (466 KB , PDF)
A research briefing examining recent developments in relation to the law concerning the dissolution of Parliament
Statements made by the Speaker deprecating the making of key policy announcements before they are made in the House of Commons.
State visits are formal international visits by heads of state. In the UK, the King hosts “inbound” state visits and embarks upon “outbound” state visits.