Select Committees 

• Work and Pensions Select Committee, 2018 - Present

• Health Select Committee, 2018 - Present 

• Science and Technology Select Committee, 2015-17

The committees, to which MPs are elected by their peers at the start of the new parliament, exists to ensure that Government policy and decision-making is based on expertise advice and evidence. Derek is an active member of both the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the Health Select Committee. The cross-party committees, which comprise of 11 MPs under the chairmanship of the Rt Hon Frank Field MP and Dr Sarah Wollaston MP respectively. The committees examine the policy, administration, and expenditure of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and their associated bodies. Although rarely used, the Committees have the power to insist upon the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers and other material.

All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs): 

All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are cross-party groups formed by MPs and Members of the House of Lords who share a common interest in a particular policy area, region or country.

While they are not official parliamentary committees these groups can be influential because of their non-partisan, bicameral approach to an issue.

Office holder for:

• Chair, Vascular and Venous Disease Group, 2017-
• Chair, Brain Tumours Group, 2017- 
• Vice Chair, Post Offices Group, 2018 -
• Vice Chair, UK Islands Group, 2018 -
• Vice Chair and Secretary, Home Electrical Safety Group, 2017-
• Secretary, Healthy Homes and Buildings Group, 2017-
• Treasurer, Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency Group, 2017- 
• Treasurer, South West Rail Group, 2017

• Member, Ocean Conservation Group, 2018-

Other: 

• Member of the Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol Group
• Member of the Great South West Alliance

To view Derek's activity in Parliament, including speeches and voting in parliament, please click here. Alternatively, to view Derek's official Parliamentary page, please click here.