A Parliamentary watchdog held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee met days before the House of Assembly is scheduled to return next Friday after its Christmas break.

Newly-appointed members of the PAC held the meeting at Veritas Place in Hamilton, with Opposition leader Cole Simons as chairman of the committee for the first time.

The committee members are OBA MPs Susan Jackson and Jarion Richardson, and Government MPs Neville Tyrrell, Dennis Lister III, Vance Campbell, and Jache Adams.

The PAC plays a major role in Parliamentary oversight on Government spending.

The Auditor-General is as an ex officio member and assists as required by the members.

PAC members were given a presentation by Baroness Kay Andrews of the UK’s House of Lords on the scrutiny process and the work of oversight committees at the Tuesday meeting.

Baroness Andrews has enjoyed a long and accomplished career in politics and is the Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chair of Committees in the House of Lords.

A Government spokeswoman said Baroness Andrews has been visiting family in Bermuda and has also met other political figures

The spokeswoman added: “PAC members made note of Baroness Andrews’ emphasis on the attributes of a strong and effective PAC, and had several questions on her experiences of parliamentary scrutiny.

“The Baroness highlighted the UK House of Commons PAC’s current focus on the British Government’s emergency expenditures relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, including procurement issues surrounding Covid healthcare equipment and supplies.”

Other items on the agenda included an agreement to review the Auditor-General’s latest annual report.

The spokeswoman said: “The chair and members also discussed the scheduling of meetings and several areas of Government expenditure and programmes which they will work to agree on for further investigation and report to the House going forward.”