Watching the watchers

Roberta Blackman-Woods asks whether All-Party Parliamentary Groups are ripe for reform

Public concern about the activities of some parliamentarians has recently extended to the sometimes unsound operation and practices of All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

APPGs are informal committees set up by MPs and peers with shared interests, ranging from leisure pursuits to serious policy areas—such as universities or students. They can set up meetings with ministers, publish reports and hold evidence sessions. Unlike select committees, they have no official status and are not funded by taxpayers.