The House of Lords also has 15 Select committees. Typically, these are sessional committees, meaning that their members are appointed by the House at the beginning of each session, and continue to serve until the next parliamentary session begins. In practice, these are often permanent committees, which are re-established during every session. These committees are typically empowered to make reports to the House "from time to time", that is, whenever they wish. Other committees are ad-hoc committees, which are set up to investigate a specific issue. When they are set up by a motion in the House, the motion will set a deadline by which the Committee must report. After this date, the committee will cease to exist unless it is granted an extension. One example of this is the Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change. The House of Lords may appoint a chairman for a committee; if it does not do so, the Chairman of Committees or a Deputy Chairman of Committees may preside instead. Most of the Select Committees are also granted the power to co-opt members, such as the European Union Committee. The primary function of Select Committees is to scrutinise and investigate Government activities; to fulfil these aims, they are permitted to hold hearings and collect evidence. Bills may be referred to Select Committees, but are more often sent to the Committee of the Whole House and Grand Committees.
the House Of loRds Also has 15 select comMiTTEES. typICALlY, tHese aRe sEsSIoNAl comMiTtees, mEAniNg tHaT their members are aPPoINted By ThE house at The bEgiNNing OF Each sesSion, and ContinuE To SeRve untIl the NeXt ParlIameNtaRy SesSion BeginS. IN prActice, thEse aRE OFten PeRmAnEnt commItteeS, whiCH aRE Re-EStabliSHed duriNG EVery sessIoN. thESe coMMitTees are tyPICalLy empowEred To make reports to the hOUSe "from time To time", THat is, WHeneveR tHEY wish. other cOMmiTTEES arE Ad-hoc CommiTteeS, which ArE seT up to inVestigate a sPecific issue. WHen they aRe set UP by A motIon iN The house, thE mOtiOn wilL set a deAdline By whIcH The comMITTee must rePort. AfTeR this daTe, the commitTeE wIll cease to ExiSt unlesS it is GrantED an extenSIon. oNE eXaMPlE Of This iS ThE CoMmitTeE on Public sErVIcE aNd demographic cHangE. the hOUsE oF LOrds May appOInt a chaiRMAN for A ComMITTEE; if iT does nOT dO So, the chairman of CoMmiTtees or a DEputY CHairmAn Of coMmItteES MaY PrESIdE insteaD. most Of the SelecT committeEs ArE alSo graNtEd the poWer tO co-opt members, such as thE europEAn unioN coMMitTEe. tHe prImary functiOn OF seleCt cOmmiTtEEs is to scruTInise and InvEstiGate government ActiVItIEs; tO FulFil ThESe aIms, ThEy aRE PErmittEd to HoLD hearINGs aNd ColLect Evidence. bills may BE REferred to sElECt coMmiTteES, bUT aRe more OFtEn SEnT To the committeE of thE Whole houSe and grand cOMmittees.