Tuesday 18 December 2012

An afternoon before the Home Affairs Select Committee

Today my two bosses Theresa May and Mark Harper were giving evidence before the all party Home Affairs Select Committee, in the House of Commons; I went along to support and assist. The committee grilled them and the head of the UK Border Agency for over 3 hours on the reduction in immigration targets, net migration, the impact on students / universities, the deportation of overseas offenders and more immediate issues like the removal of Abu Qatada. People forget that away from the main chamber all Ministers from the Prime Minister downwards have to present themselves before various selct committees who then grill them and hold them to account. In addition select committees study legislation and provide reports on key issues on an ongoing basis. It is a good system.