The Committee was established by the Intelligence Services Act 1994. Its responsibilities are to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Secret Intelligence Service (popularly known as MI6), Security Service (popularly known as MI5), and GCHQ.
The Prime Minister appoints nine Members of Parliament to the committee in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Members may be from the House of Commons or the House of Lords. Current Government Ministers are not allowed to be members.
Work of the committee is usually conducted in secret, though an annual report is issued.