How is parliament effective?

The fusion of powers and divisions with the main opposition make it difficult to challenge government bills.
The fusion of powers also allows the party whips to offer the prospect of future promotion into a ministerial position to keep backbench MPs loyal.
This can make the legislative process efficient as the government can quite easily carry out its agenda, however, it also raises questions about whether backbench MPs are able or willing to question and improve bills.
Usually the Official Opposition in Parliament mounts an effective challenge to government legislation. However, by February 2017, Jeremy Corbyn had already faced 28 shadow cabinet resignations.
This resulted in shadow ministerial positions being left unfilled, and some shadow ministers taking on multiple roles.
In the 2015-16 Parliamentary Session, the Lords considered 78 bills, and made 1,254 amendments, several of which were very significant. The Lords introduced the highly popular Dubs Amendment to the Immigration Act (2016) to encourage the Government to accept more vulnerable unaccompanied refugee children to the UK.

Select Committees have proven more effective than debates at scrutinising executive and holding it to account.
In 2014, the Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, a doctor who had previously been critical of the Government’s health policies, was elected as the new Chair of the Health Committee.
Scrutinise policy, administration and expenditure of the government.
They reflect the party balance in the HofC and spend time questioning ministers, officials and outside experts and can request access to government papers.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty called in by Health + SC Committee to investigate the management of the first wave of COVID-19.
40% of Departmental Select Committee recommendations are accepted.
Question Time:an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to question government ministers about matters for which they are responsible.
PMQs: Leader of the opposition, leader of the third largest party and backbenchers selected by the speaker can question PM on any matter – in 2015 Corbyn asked questions sent in by the public.

BBBC was created in 2010 and has given MPs opp to shape agenda.
Decides topic for debate 1 day a week.
E-petitions that attract more than 100,000 signatures are often debated – 32 between 2011-15 and one on a second EU referendum in 2016.
Gov does not have to respond to motions passed.
Early in each parliamentary session, 20 names of MPs who wish to introduce a bill
are drawn in a ballot.
Two landmark laws to originate as private members’ bills were the Murder (Abolition
of Death Penalty) Act (1965) and the Abortion Act (1967).
In 2013, the backbench Conservative MP Jonathan Lord introduced the Citizenship (Armed Forces) Act (2014), which amended a legal issue that made it hard for some members of the army to become British citizens.
Free votes on controversial issues also give MPs more freedom to respond to their constituents. 136 Conservative MPs voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill (2013), and 40 more MPs abstained.