The Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Commons is responsible for examining the expenditure, administration and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). A number of committee specialists aid the work of this committee, and ensure that it is able to effectively oversee and advise the work of the FCO. Currently, the Committee is holding inquiries into the UK’s relationship with India, China and the international order, UK sanctions policy, the Overseas Territories and the UK’s role in relation to South America.

On the 5th of February, the Centre for Grand Strategy will host committee specialists Ashlee Godwin and Eleanor Scarnell who will be speaking to students about their experience working for the Foreign Affairs Committee in Parliament.

Ashlee Godwin

Ashlee is Senior Specialist on the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS). She also works in support of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee and is currently setting up a team of specialists to provide expert support to all House of Commons Select Committees on international affairs. The JCNSS is a Committee of both Houses of Parliament whose role is to scrutinise the cross-government national security strategy, which includes scrutinising the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the work of the National Security Adviser and that of the Cabinet Office in relation to national security. Her responsibility is to research the implications of government policies in order to brief the MPs and Peers on the Committee. They will then use oral evidence sessions to further explore the strategy area under scrutiny and produce a report with recommendations for the Government. The JCNSS recently completed a major inquiry on the cyber security of critical national infrastructure and is now returning to its work on last year’s National Security Capability Review and Modernising Defence Programme.

Eleanor Scarnell

Eleanor is currently a Committee Specialist for the House of Commons Defence Select Committee and has previously worked for the Home Affairs Select Committee. The role of the Select Committee is to scrutinise Ministry of Defence administration, expenditure and policy. Her responsibility is to research the implications of government policies in order to brief the MPs on the Committee. They will then use oral evidence sessions to further explore the policy and produce a report with recommendations for the Government. Currently, the Committee is holding inquiries into mental health in the Armed Forces, INF Treaty withdrawal, Global Islamist terrorism and hybrid threats to the UK.