Week ahead in committee

This could be quite a big week for select committee intervention in big-picture government policy.

Watch out for the chairs of the Health Committee, Stephen Dorrell (health secretary under John Major), and of the special committee scrutinising the draft bill on social care, Paul Burstow (a coalition health minister until the summer), who, between them, may deliver an uncomfortable analysis of the state of the NHS.

And with increasing pressure on coalition economic policy, what might come out of the Treasury Committee's regular investigation into the Budget? I'm not sure of the timings yet, but the committee typically hears from outside experts, then Treasury officials, and then the Chancellor - a process which may extend into next week. And their verdict could add to the pressure on George Osborne.

Here's my rundown of the week's highlights on the committee corridor.....

Monday

He's back again! Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS in England, seems to be trapped in some kind of select committee groundhog day, at the moment.

After his grilling at the Health Committee, last week, his latest appearance is before the Public Accounts Committee (at 3.15pm). They have a hearing on the management of hospital consultants based on this report from the National Audit Office, which said the new contract for hospital consultants, introduced in October 2003, delivered many of the expected benefits in exchange for a significant increase in pay.

But it also found there is still significant room for improvement in how trusts manage their consultants. This subject seems bound to spill over into wider concerns about the management culture of the NHS, and if it does, Sir David can expect another rough ride. There will also be evidence from Sir Bruce Keogh, the NHS's medical director; David Flory, chief executive of the NHS Trust Development Authority, and Dean Royles, chief executive, NHS Employers. The questioning is bound to revolve around the issues raised by the Mid Staffs case.

The Commons internal committees are usually pretty humdrum affairs, but the Administration Committee (at 4.50pm) has an interesting-looking new inquiry on MPs' first weeks at Westminster, looking at induction arrangements for new members of Parliament after the next general election, taking into consideration what new MPs need on first arrival at Westminster to enable them to undertake their parliamentary duties, from Peter Riddell, director of the high-powered think-tank the Institute of Government; then Max Freedman, Parliamentary branch chair for Unite, the union which represents many parliamentary staff and Lisa Townsend of the Members and Peers Staff Association.

The Public Administration Committee are questioning Lt Col Dan Ward of the US Air Force, via video link. It was he who coined the procurement mantra FIST (Fast, Inexpensive, Simple and Tiny) to "describe a particular pattern of decision making in procurement that aims to support rapid, low cost innovation". After hearing more about FIST, the committee will have the opportunity to examine how these principles might apply to UK government procurement.

The Communities and Local Government Committee were due to venture to Leeds town hall for the latest session in its inquiry into private rented housing, but that trip has been cancelled so that its members can remain in Westminster for crucial votes on press regulation.

Tuesday

The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee (at 9.30am) has a one-off session on the Office for Fair Access, with evidence heard from Mary Curnock Cook, chief executive, UCAS; followed by (at 10.15am) by Professor Les Ebdon, director of the Office for Fair Access.

The Health Committee (at 9.30am) on the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry talks to whistle-blower Gary Walker and the former the CEO of the Lincs Trust at the centre of that story, David Bowles. What, if anything, will he add to what is already known about the case?

The Justice Committee (at 9.30am) has a one-off evidence session on the operation of the Legal Services Board, with its chair, David Edmonds.

Culture, Media and Sport (at 11am) covers regulation of the press. Further evidence will be heard on regulation of the press, from Max Mosley; followed by (at 11.30) Seamus Dooley, assistant general secretary, National Union of Journalists.

The Scottish Affairs Committee (at 2.30pm) continues its look at the issues involved in the "Referendum on Separation for Scotland". At issue is the way 16 to 18-year-olds and service people abroad will be registered to vote. The witnesses are the Electoral Commissioner for Scotland, and other officials.

The Home Affairs Committee (at 2.45pm) continues its sometimes harrowing investigation into localised child grooming - the latest crop of witnesses include the Muslim Council of Britain; StreetOnline; the National Working Group for sexually exploited children and young people, and The Children's Society. The committee will investigate co-ordination (or the lack of) between various local agencies including child protective services, the police and the CPS.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister David Heath is before the EFRA Committee (at 3pm) to talk about the ever-contentious issue of using vaccination to combat bovine TB.

The Joint Committee on Human Rights (at 2.15pm) begins a new inquiry into the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIMS) regime. This is the new package of restrictions on terrorist suspects that replaced the Labour government's control orders. David Anderson QC, the Independent Reviewer of the system gives evidence.

Wednesday

The Education Committee (at 9.30am) will hold its third and final evidence session on the role of school governing bodies - with junior education minister Lord Nash.

At the Home Affairs Committee (at 10.30am), Children's minister Edward Timpson will round off the inquiry into localised child grooming. Will the Savile case and the Rochdale convictions mark a 'watershed moment' in the prosecution of sexual offences against children?

Elsewhere, the Work and Pensions Committee (at 4.30pm) hears from the Employment Minister, Mark Hoban, about the operation of the Work Programme, the flagship scheme to get people off benefits and into employment, and the experience of its different user groups. This session will examine what tools DWP has at its disposal, should poor performance continue.

In addition, it has been claimed by some witnesses that WP providers are 'creaming and parking' - ie focusing on those easiest to help and parking the harder to help groups. An issue likely be raised is whether the WP's differential pricing structure could be changed to better incentivise WP providers to focus on those furthest away from the labour market.

Thursday

The saintly Tony Wright, architect of the Commons reforms which created the Backbench Business Committee and elected select committees, appears before the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee (at 9.30am). Has he looked upon his works and seen that they are good?