Nascent institutionalisation: Committees in the British parliament

The British Parliament has tended to be a chamber‐oriented institution. Despite a remarkable longevity, it is only relatively recently that the two Houses of Parliament, primarily the House of Commons, have seen a notable degree of institutionalisation through the use of specialised committees. There has also been some degree of institutionalisation within the committees themselves. The development has been limited, but has served to strengthen parliament as a body of scrutiny. The conditions necessary for significant reform, shifting the emphasis from the chamber to committee work, have been a window of opportunity, political will and leadership. The conditions were met in 1979 and may be met again in the new parliament elected in 1997. Parliament may move from a nascent to a developed institutionalism in the new century.