The Value of Calls In

Not much, in my view.  Here in Brent we suffer from a Liberal Democrat opposition that is much more interested in empty posturing than achieving anything.  Thus, whatever our constituional arrangements we would have problems.  However, calls in going to a specific committee is probably the worst solution imaginable.

As the committee only meets for a call in, its members have little chance at developing any cross party rapport.  The issues concerned are by definition contentious, and by the time the committee discusses them, positions tend to have become entrenched.  The standard advice in our authorities is that it is better to exercise pre-scrutiny i.e. ask for hearings before the issue goes to the Executive.