The Commons Speaker communicates the proportion of committees to be chaired by each political party, based upon the outcome of the election. Within a week of the King’s Speech, a motion allocating the chairmanship of specific committees to specific parties is then tabled by the leaders of all the parties entitled to seats on committees. Once the motion is approved by the House, chairs should then be elected within two weeks. The majority of select committee chairs are elected by all their fellow MPs. This applies to departmental committees and the Environmental Audit, Procedure, Public Administration and Public Accounts committees as well as the Petitions Committee. 

The members of a select committee, other than a chair elected by the House, are nominated by a motion before the House. The names are put forward after having been democratically chosen within each political party. The party composition of the committees will reflect that of the new House of Commons.  

Clearly, the Alliance will be particularly interested in the make up of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee and Environmental Audit Committee amongst others. We may not have a full set of committees before the autumn depending on the timing of the summer recess.