Select committees are becoming increasingly significant, but show an enormous gender bias in their choice of witnesses

Select committees are now firmly established as an important part of our democratic architecture, making a bigger impression than ever before since the implementation of the 2010 Wright Committee reforms. But Democratic Audit research shows a staggering gender gap in the witnesses that provide them with oral evidence. While this is reflective of a set of wider societal problems, Democratic Audit’s Sean Kippin argues that committee chairs and staff must make more effort to increase female visibility at select committees.