Select Committee
Parliament

Chair Bernard Jenkin opens by asking what status the government gives to a resolution passed by the House of Commons.

The Leader of the House Commons says the government takes resolutions "very seriously" and ensures responses to any motions passed are published within 12 weeks.

Andrea Leadsom tells the committee that resolutions are "not binding" on the government, but assures the MPs that the government takes "active interest" in all debates in the House of Commons.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, Conservative Party

The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs committee (PACAC) is chaired by the Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin.

Also on the committee is:

• Ronnie Cowan (SNP)
• Paul Flynn (Lab)
• Marcus Fysh (Con)
• Dame Cheryl Gillan (Con)
• Kelvin Hopkins (Ind)
• Rupa Huq (Lab)
• David Jones (Con)
• Sandy Martin (Lab)
• David Morris (Con)
• Tulip Siddiq (Lab)

Image source, UK Parliament

Shortly, Andrea Leadsom will give evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the status of resolutions and motions of no confidence in the House of Commons.

A ‘resolution of the House’ is a mechanism by which the House of Commons declares its own opinions and purposes - most are not legally binding, but have historically had substantial political force, often compelling governments to change policy.

In the early months of the current Parliament, members on the government side were ordered by the government whips not to take part in divisions at the conclusion of Opposition day debates.

Consequently, the House passed a series of resolutions critical of government policy which the government has declined to act upon.

This has led to concern that the government is rewriting the previous understanding of the constitutional conventions of the House of Commons.

As another week in Westminster gets under way, we're looking ahead to a committee session at 12.30pm today - a little earlier than usual - with Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom answering questions from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

The session is going to be concentrating on the status of resolutions, and what the implications are for Brexit decisions in the future.

Of course, business in the chambers starts at 2.30pm, and you can find out more about what's on this week from our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy's blog.

But as to what's going to be happening at Westminster this week, outside timetabled events, we can only say: follow our blog covering Parliament and coverage of live events with the BBC Politics' live blog team.

It's the best way to keep up to date with what promises to be a torried week ahead...