Preliminary investigations

At the request of a group of members of the Scrutiny Committee that represent at least one third of the Members of Parliament, the Scrutiny Committee conducts a preliminary inquiry into any issue that has attracted critical attention either publicly or in the Danish Parliament.

In a preliminary investigation, the committee puts written questions to ministers either for a reply in writing or for an oral reply in a consultation with the committee. A preliminary investigation may be terminated without conclusions by a two-thirds majority in the committee. Otherwise, the preliminary investigation is concluded with a recommendation to the Standing Orders Committee either to draw political conclusions based on the preliminary investigation or, if a one-third minority of the Scrutiny Committee so requests, to launch a proper investigation. However, another minority of at least one third of the Scrutiny Committee’s members may request to have the issue debated and decided in plenary rather than in the Standing Orders Committee.

Proper investigation

The following types of proper investigations may be initiated on the recommendation of the Scrutiny Committee: An impartial lawyers’ investigation, a professional expert elucidation, a Scrutiny Commission or an Investigation Commission.

Upon a decision of setting up a scrutiny commission, the Danish Parliament itself is responsible for the appointment of the commission and for providing it with clerical services etc. Moreover, a scrutiny commission has recourse, at its discretion, to discussions with the Scrutiny Committee on matters pertaining to the direction and progress of the commission’s work.