Select Committees are found in both the Commons and the Lords.  Their main role is to keep a check and produce reports on the work of government departments.  The results of these inquries are made available to the public and often require the Government of the day to address their findings.

There is a Commons Select Committee for each department of the government.  Because of this the names and roles of groups evolve as departments and their roles change.  See HERE for a full list of the current Select Committees.  

Committees are made up of a minimum of 11 members, and whilst cross party, reflect the majority held by the government.  Members of Committees are appointed after a General Election, and an MP remains a Member unless they become a Minister or are replaced by their party until the next election.  

It is up to each Committee to decide what issues it wishes to investigate, and then gather evidence, both written and oral.  It is also common place for Select Committees to visit people and places in an effort to etsablish how others do things.  A committee can request any individual to appear before it, including high ranking ministers, and private individuals from the world of business.  Mostly those called attend willingly, though a committee does have the right to subpeona people to appear before it.  This right does not extend to Ministers, though it is rare for a Minister to refuse to attend.

Once the evidence for an inquiry has been gathered, the Committee will then draft a report of their findings which will then be considered by all members of the committee.  Whilst it is not uncommon for significant changes to be made at this stage, the majority of reports will be published within a week of the draft being considered.  The government then has 60 days in which to respond to the points raised by the committee's report.  This reply will normally take the shape of a memorandum to the committee or a White Paper published by the Government.  

Whilst Select Committees cannot force the government to change its policy, they remain a well respected institution within Parliament.  When a committee speaks on a subject members of both the government and the press take notice, which ensures that reports receive attention and thus increases their impact.