The Work and Pensions Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons

British House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...

 in the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

. The remit of the Committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions

The Department for Work and Pensions is the largest government department in the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security and headed by the Secretary of State for Work and...

 and its associated public bodies.

Membership

As of 25 October 2011, the membership of the committee is as follows:

Member		Party	Constituency
	Debbie Abrahams Debbie Abrahams Deborah Angela Elspeth Abrahams is a British politician, who has been the Labour Member of Parliament for the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency since a by-election in January 2011. Her previous career was as a public health consultant.-Early and professional life:Abrahams was born in...  MP	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	Oldham East and Saddleworth
	Anne Begg Anne Begg Dame Anne Begg, DBE is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South since 1997...  MP (Chair)	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	Aberdeen South Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency) Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
	Harriett Baldwin Harriett Baldwin Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin is a British Conservative Party politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for West Worcestershire since the 2010 general election....  MP	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	West Worcestershire
	Andrew Bingham Andrew Bingham Andrew Russell Bingham is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been Member of Parliament for High Peak in Derbyshire since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.-Early life:...  MP	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	High Peak High Peak (UK Parliament constituency) - Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :-Elections in the 1970s:-Elections in the 1960s:...
	Karen Bradley Karen Bradley Karen Anne Bradley is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Staffordshire Moorlands, elected at the 2010 general election....  MP	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	Staffordshire Moorlands Staffordshire Moorlands (UK Parliament constituency) -Elections in the 2000s:Source:-Elections in the 1990s:-Notes and references:...
	Sheila Gilmore Sheila Gilmore Sheila Gilmore is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh East since 2010. Gilmore stood for the seat following the decision of Gavin Strang MP to stand down; she is a former City of Edinburgh councillor.- Childhood and early career :Gilmore was born...  MP	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	Edinburgh East Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency) Edinburgh East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
	Oliver Heald Oliver Heald Oliver Heald is a British barrister and Conservative politician, and the Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire.-Background:...  MP	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	North East Hertfordshire
	Glenda Jackson Glenda Jackson Glenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...  MP	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	Hampstead and Kilburn Hampstead and Kilburn (UK Parliament constituency) Hampstead and Kilburn is a borough constituency electing one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
	Brandon Lewis Brandon Lewis Brandon Kenneth Lewis is the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth. He was elected at the 2010 general election.-Early life:Brandon Lewis was born on 20 June 1971 in Harold Wood, and educated at Forest School...	Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...	Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth (UK Parliament constituency) Great Yarmouth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
	Stephen Lloyd Stephen Lloyd Stephen Anthony Christopher Lloyd is a British Liberal Democrat politician and business development consultant. He is the Member of Parliament for Eastbourne.-Biography:...  MP	Liberal Democrat Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...	Eastbourne Eastbourne (UK Parliament constituency) Eastbourne is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election. Traditionally a safe Conservative seat, Eastbourne became very marginal following the 1990...
	Teresa Pearce Teresa Pearce Teresa Pearce is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead since 2010.-Early life:...  MP	Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...	Erith and Thamesmead

Source: Work and Pensions Committee

Changes

Occasionally, the House of Commons orders changes to be made in terms of membership of select committees, as proposed by the Committee of Selection. Such changes are shown below.

Date	Outgoing Member & Party		Constituency	→	New Member & Party		Constituency	Source
2 November 2010		Karen Buck Karen Buck Karen Patricia Buck is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Regent's Park and Kensington North since 1997, and is a former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport....  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Westminster North Westminster North (UK Parliament constituency) Westminster North is a UK Parliamentary constituency in Central London and west London, comprising the northern part of the City of Westminster. It existed from 1983 to 1997...	→		Alex Cunningham Alex Cunningham Alexander Cunningham is a British Labour Party politician. He was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Stockton North....  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Stockton North	Hansard
		Margaret Curran Margaret Curran Margaret Patricia Curran is a Scottish Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Glasgow East since 2010, and is currently Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Glasgow East Glasgow East (UK Parliament constituency) Glasgow East is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It elects one Member of Parliament at least once every five years using the First-past-the-post system of voting....			Glenda Jackson Glenda Jackson Glenda May Jackson, CBE is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1992, and currently represents Hampstead and Kilburn. She previously served as MP for Hampstead and Highgate...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Hampstead and Kilburn Hampstead and Kilburn (UK Parliament constituency) Hampstead and Kilburn is a borough constituency electing one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
		Shabana Mahmood Shabana Mahmood Shabana Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician and barrister, who has been the Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Ladywood since the May 2010 general election.-Early life:...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Birmingham Ladywood			Teresa Pearce Teresa Pearce Teresa Pearce is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead since 2010.-Early life:...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Erith and Thamesmead
29 November 2010		Richard Graham Richard Graham (politician) Richard Graham is a British Conservative Party politician, who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Gloucester, defeating the Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda.-Education:...  MP (Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... )	Gloucester Gloucester (UK Parliament constituency) Gloucester is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was established in 1295 to return two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons but in 1885 representation was reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885...	→		Andrew Bingham Andrew Bingham Andrew Russell Bingham is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been Member of Parliament for High Peak in Derbyshire since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.-Early life:...  MP (Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... )	High Peak High Peak (UK Parliament constituency) - Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :-Elections in the 1970s:-Elections in the 1960s:...	Hansard
		Sajid Javid Sajid Javid Sajid Javid is an English Conservative Party politician. At the 2010 general election he was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for the Bromsgrove constituency....  MP (Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... )	Bromsgrove Bromsgrove (UK Parliament constituency) Bromsgrove is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system...			Brandon Lewis Brandon Lewis Brandon Kenneth Lewis is the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth. He was elected at the 2010 general election.-Early life:Brandon Lewis was born on 20 June 1971 in Harold Wood, and educated at Forest School...  MP (Conservative Conservative Party (UK) The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House... )	Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth (UK Parliament constituency) Great Yarmouth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
27 June 2011		Alex Cunningham Alex Cunningham Alexander Cunningham is a British Labour Party politician. He was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Stockton North....  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Stockton North	→		Debbie Abrahams Debbie Abrahams Deborah Angela Elspeth Abrahams is a British politician, who has been the Labour Member of Parliament for the Oldham East and Saddleworth constituency since a by-election in January 2011. Her previous career was as a public health consultant.-Early and professional life:Abrahams was born in...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Oldham East and Saddleworth	Hansard
25 October 2011		Kate Green Kate Green Katherine Anne 'Kate' Green OBE is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston since 2010.-Early life:Green was born in Edinburgh to Maurice and Jessie Craig Green...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Stretford and Urmston	→		Sheila Gilmore Sheila Gilmore Sheila Gilmore is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh East since 2010. Gilmore stood for the seat following the decision of Gavin Strang MP to stand down; she is a former City of Edinburgh councillor.- Childhood and early career :Gilmore was born...  MP (Labour Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after... )	Edinburgh East Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency) Edinburgh East is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....	Hansard

External links

• Work and Pensions Committee