Guide
Giving evidence to a select committee
How select committees work, what the rules say about written and oral evidence, what happens on the day, and how to prepare for two hours of questions in public.
Read the guideSelect Committee Preparation
Simulated evidence sessions, from delivering key messages through a lengthy Q&A to handling a team appearance in front of a committee.
Want to be seen as on top of things with a good handle on the issues? Use our training to simulate a range of evidence giving sessions from Select Committees to Enquiries.
We have worked with senior executives to better understand the process and their role in it: from delivering key messages in a lengthy Q&A session, supplying supporting evidence and showing how to handle a team appearance.
Formats
- One-to-one coaching for the witness giving evidence
- Full mock hearing simulating the committee’s style of questioning
- Team preparation for organisations sending more than one witness, so messages stay consistent
- A pre-hearing briefing covering format, procedure and likely tone
What you gain
The ability to answer scrutiny confidently, stay on message under repeated and overlapping questions, and bridge from a difficult question back to the facts that matter.
A really thought-provoking day and one that I feel has challenged the way we have traditionally approached our work. Many thanks.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions about select committee preparation.
What is select committee preparation?
Bespoke coaching to prepare a witness or panel of witnesses for a parliamentary select committee or inquiry hearing, covering message development, the format and procedure of the session, and rehearsal through simulated questioning.
How long before the hearing should I start?
As soon as you know you’re giving evidence. Message development and simulated questioning both benefit from time to rehearse and refine, though Jawsmith can also work to a tight timescale ahead of a short-notice hearing.
Is the preparation specific to my organisation and the committee I’m appearing before?
Yes. Every programme is built around your evidence, your organisation’s context and the committee or inquiry you’re appearing in front of, rather than generic media training.
Can Jawsmith run a full mock hearing?
Yes. Mock hearings simulate a range of evidence-giving sessions, from delivering key messages in a lengthy Q&A to handling a team appearance, followed by detailed feedback on message discipline and delivery.
Who has been prepared for select committee appearances through Jawsmith?
Hilary Jeffs has prepared senior executives and their teams for select committee and public inquiry appearances across regulators, arm’s length bodies and national agencies.
In a real studio
Studio training days
When a session needs broadcast conditions, Hilary runs it in a working studio near Chichester, with an earpiece in your ear, three cameras on you and an engineer in the gallery.
Free guides and tools
Free tool
Tough question drill
Fifty awkward questions from interviews, crises and committee rooms, against the clock. Answer out loud, then see what the question was trying to do.
Open the toolGuide
Media and parliamentary jargon, explained
Down-the-line, doorstep, embargo, lines to take, uncorrected transcript: plain-English definitions of the words you will hear from producers, journalists and committee clerks.
Read the guideRelated training
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Find out moreBuild communication confidence with Jawsmith
Let us help you, your teams and your executives communicate more effectively. Get in touch to find out more about us and our approach.