Parliamentary inquiry committee

A parliamentary inquiry committee, or parliamentary committee of inquiry (PCI), is an investigation committee of the legislative branch of a country's parliament, which hears testimonies and gathers information directly on matters of public concern, in what is often termed a public inquiry. Usually the committee delivers a report with conclusions and recommendations, in order to spur government action to improve policy or prevent similar events from happening again. The term "parliamentary inquiry" is not used consistently in all countries, and may be investigated by a committee set up for a limited duration (European model) or by a standing committee (particularly those following the Westminster system of government), which is set up as an ongoing committee to assist the parliament in a variety of ways.