Committee scrutiny in Scotland: a comparative and bi-constitutional perspective

Abstract

This article addreses scrutiny undertaken through departmental committees at the Scottish Parliament. The analysis is addressed through four distinctive phases – choice, evidence-gathering, evaluation and outputs – developed through using a wide-ranging comparative literature. The findings on Scotland are discussed in terms of the bi-constitutional perspective and specifically the emergence of different forms of committee scrutiny at the Scottish Parliament and the UK House of Commons. This analysis is subsequently widened through reference to committee scrutiny at the Northern Ireland Assembly and the National Assembly for Wales. Finally, wider applications are identified.