The Role of Committees

An Assembly Committee is a group of Assembly Members who meet regularly to scrutinise policy and legislation. Committees are generally ‘party-balanced’ reflecting the number of Assembly Members representing each party within the Assembly. Most committees meet in public.

Committees in the Assembly carry out many functions: some scrutinise the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government and hold Ministers to account; some examine proposed legislation; and others have specific functions allocated to them by the Assembly or its Standing Orders. Details of the remit and responsibilities of each committee can be found on its homepage.  

There are four main types of Committees:

Scrutiny Committees

have the power to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Assembly Government and associated public bodies.  

Mandatory Committees

are named in the Standing Orders of the Assembly and have specific roles, details of which are listed on their homepages.

Regional Committees

may exist in each electoral region if the Assembly votes to do so.  These committees would be concerned with matters particular to the region.  

Ad-hoc Committees

may be created according to the needs of the Assembly. These may include committees created to scrutinise Assembly Measures, Legislative Competence Orders, or specific issues that arise.

Visit the Committees section.