One of the privileges of being a member of a Commons select committee is that you get to interrogate ministers and other powerful figures. But now it seems that the Treasury select committee is contracting part of that job out to members of the public.
It's just sent out a press release saying that it's inviting members of the public to submit questions to be put to Alistair Darling, Mervyn King and Adair Turner at a subsequent hearing. I'm sure it won't be quite the same as a radio phone-in – "Clive from Maidenhead wants to know what you're doing about the inter-bank lending rate" – but that seems to be the direction in which they're heading.
As far as I know, this is a first for a select committee. John McFall, the chairman, explains why he's doing it in the press notice (which should be on the committee's website soon).
Taxpayers are naturally very concerned about the scale of this investment. The committee hopes that by providing people with the chance to have us put their questions to those in charge, we can provide a constructive way of engaging the public on a matter of such deep concern to the whole country.
It sounds a bit gimmicky to me, but I suppose I shouldn't scoff. What do you think?
