PLMR's Team have worked for and with Members of Parliament for over a decade. We have trained many organisations for appearances in front of Select Committees including Plcs, trade associations, individuals and charities.

Select Committees were set up with a very clear focus – the intent was that they would act as a check on Government policy, expenditure and administration.  Select Committees have the power to force witnesses to appear before them and also to demand information and documents. Whilst Select Committees can have an impact upon policy development and public debate, they can also break reputations, both individual and corporate, in a matter of moments.  In recent years in the UK, there have been some very memorable Select Committee moments, featuring amongst others Barclaycard and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to name but a few. The advent of televised proceedings within the Houses of Parliament brought a new dimension to the Select Committee Experience.

So, appearing before a Select Committee can be an extremely stressful experience. However, with preparation, a Select Committee appearance can be turned to your advantage.  It is a truism to say that no amount of preparation can guarantee a relaxed, uneventful hearing.  It is equally true that thorough preparation, consideration and rehearsing can reduce the likelihood of a negative experience and can also maximise your chances of a positive experience.  With our help and reassurance, you can turn a Select Committee appearance into an opportunity for a positive profiling and effective communication of your key messages to the audiences within and outside Parliament.

During the hearing there can be persistent and detailed questioning of witnesses.  This means that you must be very well prepared in order to provide the best answers under the duress of questioning.  This can be done through thorough preparation of not only the anticipated questions, but also of the political environment that the Committee is sitting in. 

This preparation is achieved by carrying out a political audit of the Committee.  We analyse the style, preferences and splits within a given Committee. We provide you with political biographies on Committee members and their staff along with other witnesses who have appeared in front of the Committee and thus we can present you with a complete overview of the Committee's way of operating and give you the added edge you want to make the whole experience more relaxed and indeed successful.

We also brief you on previous hearings that the Committee you are appearing in front of has conducted.  Each Select Committee has its own style and personality, more often than not shaped by the style, experience and personality of the chairman. It is also important to consider previous witnesses and how they fared in order to really familiarise yourself  with the questioning style of the individual MPs or Peers in order to best prepare for the hearing.

PLMR believes it is vital to develop with our clients an integrated strategy which combines providing you with the best possible preparation and rehearsal for the Select Committee Hearing itself, together with a strategy for effectively "leveraging" your appearance both within Westminster and beyond.  Our help will leave you well-prepared and confident and includes drafting the written submissions and other correspondence which is required with most Select Committee invitations (or summons).  Our every action has the goal of protecting the reputation of our clients.  We have good links with the Clerks of the Select Committees with whom we deal on a regular basis.  We know how they work and how they like to be treated.  Our assiduous approach will ensure that you are never surprised by any unforeseen circumstances that may affect the testimony you are going to give.

Our rehearsal and preparation service includes preparing for you a list of key questions that we know you will be asked together with draft responses.  Often the Committee Clerk is happy to circulate this in advance.  If that is not the case, we can still ensure that you are well prepared.  This means that you are unlikely to be caught off guard by difficult or unforeseen lines of questioning.   Finally, we will ensure that we attend on the day with you and guarantee that the whole experience is effectively managed. 

Select Committee appearances are a part of British democracy. PLMR's team, with its experience of Parliament, politics and the media, takes pleasure in helping our clients navigate through the experience and to actually enjoy it.  If you want to informally discuss your requirements, call us on 0207 622 9529 and ask for Kevin Craig.