Parliamentary Select Committees are independent of government and provide a means by which Parliament scrutinizes the work of Government. There are 18 Departmental Select Committees in the House of Commons. The Science & Technology Committee differed from the other Select Committees in that it previously monitored the activities of the Office of Science and Innovation rather than Departmental activities. However, with the re-organisation and inclusion of science and innovation within the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills in 2007 the Science and Technology Committee was replaced with an Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee (IUSC) which took effect from the State Opening of the 2007-08 session of Parliament. With the Government reshuffle in Spring 2009 and creation of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Select Committee for Science and Technology was reinstated and is effective from 1st October 2009, until then the IUSC Committee continued to complete its business.

The Science and Technology Select Committee has the role of examining the expenditure, administration and policy of the Government Office for Science (GO Science) and its associated bodies. These included the Research Councils UK, the individual Research Councils and their Institutes, The Royal Society and The Royal Academy of Engineering.

The Committee consists of eleven Members of Parliament one of whom was elected as Chairman. The political party balance of members reflected that in the House of Commons.

The Committee decides on topics for inquiry and works through a process of inviting and taking written evidence, informal visits, briefing meetings and public evidence sessions. Reports of the Committees and recommendations are published. The Government then responds to the Committee's reports, normally within two months, which sometimes lead to a debate in the House of Commons.

The Committee publishes an annual report on the GO-Science and conducts inquiries into each of the Research Councils activities in the course of a Parliament. In addition, the Committee holds introductory hearings with major new appointments to the GO-Science and its associated public bodes.

The Committee has the power to examine draft legislation and White Papers and by doing so, has the potential to influence legalisation.

The Committee is supported by the Clerk of the Committee, a Second Clerk, a Committee Assistant, Secretary, a Senior Office Clerk, and two Committee Specialists. The Clerks and Specialists manage enquiries and assist the drafting of briefing materials and reports.