The term Grand Committee is used differently in each House: in the Lords, the Grand Committee is a secondary debating chamber where any member of the House of Lords may attend and speak. In the House of Commons, Grand Committees have been appointed to debate issues affecting one country or region within the UK.
Grand Committees: House of Lords
Debates take place regularly in House of Lords Grand Committee and sittings can happen simultaneously with debates in the main chamber. Bills that are not committed to a Committee of the Whole House in the Lords are most often debated in Grand Committee instead. The proceedings are identical to those in a Committee of the Whole House except that voting is not allowed. This means that all decisions must be made unanimously. Any Member of the House of Lords may attend Grand Committee.
Grand Committees in the Commons
Welsh Grand Committee
The Welsh Grand Committee consists of the 40 Welsh MPs, and currently up to 5 others. It debates issues relevant to Wales, such as the draft Wales Bill which was debated in the previous Parliament.
Scottish Grand Committee
The Scottish Grand Committee includes all 59 MPs representing Scottish constituencies. It may meet anywhere in Scotland as well as Westminster. Traditionally it considered the principles of Scottish Bills which were referred to it at second reading. However, UK Parliament Bills relating only to Scotland are rare since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. It also takes questions and statements and debates other matters concerning Scotland. However, there have been no meetings of the Committee in the last few years.
Northern Ireland Grand Committee
The Northern Ireland Grand Committee includes each of the 18 MPs in Northern Ireland, together with up to 25 other MPs. It debates matters relating specifically to Northern Ireland.
Regional Grand Committees
Regional Grand Committees were established in November 2008 but Standing Orders that set up these committees expired in April 2010. Regions of the UK that were covered by a Regional Grand Committee included:
- East Midlands
- East of England
- North East
- North West
- South East
- South West
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire and the Humber