Method of working
The Committee seeks to be as open as possible in all its work. Summary records of all its meetings are available on this website
The Committee has developed a structured approach to its inquiries:
Oral evidence
During the course of its twelve major studies the Committee has taken oral evidence from 775 individuals or groups of witnesses over 126 days of public hearings:
Twelfth Report - In London on 8 days (16,12, 29, 30 June, 7, 8, 13, 16 July) and in Belfast on the 1 July 2009
Eleventh Report - in London on 8 days (13 and 15 June, 11 13 18 July and 7,14, 21 September) in Belfast on 2 days (21 June and 23 October) in Edinburgh on 27 June and in Cardiff on the 6 July 2009.
Tenth Report - in London on 10 days (18 May, 15 June, 13 and 15 July, 9 and 14 September and 21 October) in Edinburgh on 15 June, In Belfast on 29 June and in Cardiff on 7 July 2004.
Ninth Report - in London on nine days (27 and Friday 28 June, 1, 2, 5, 9, 12 July and 9 and 18 September 2002).
Eighth Report - in London on eight days (7, 8 13, 20 and 28 May, 11 and 14 June and 18 September) and in Edinburgh on 16 May 2002.
Seventh Report - in London on six days (26, 29 and 30 June, 7, 10 and 17 July 1999).
Sixth Report - in London on seven days (18, 28 June; 2, 5, 6, 12 and 15 July 1999).
Fifth Report - in London on two days a week between 15 April and 14 May 1998 and on 15 June 1998, in Cardiff on 20 and 21 May 1998, in Edinburgh on 3 and 4 June 1998 and in Belfast on 17 and 18 June 1998.
Third Report - in Cardiff on 4 and 5 December 1996, in Edinburgh on 17 and 18 December 1996 and London on two days a week between 21 January and 27 February 1997.
Second Report - in London on two days a week between 14 November and 13 December 1995, in Cardiff on 24 and 25 January and in Edinburgh on 30 and 31 January 1996.
First Report - in London on three mornings per week from 17 January to 23 February 1995.
Written evidence
The Committee has received over 5,800 written submissions. Files of the evidence supplied to the Committee by organisations and individuals have been deposited in the Public Record Office in Kew. Copies have been provided to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast, the Scottish Public Record Office in Edinburgh and the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, and the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament for the use of the Members of those Houses. Written submissions received in relation to the Fifth and all subsequent reports are published on a CD-Rom as part of the report. Material on individual cases, or which has been found to be potentially defamatory, and submissions where those submitting evidence have specifically requested confidentiality, have been excluded.
