An important development in recent years has been the number of bills published in draft form by the government for pre-legislative consideration in Parliament through the select committee system of both Houses. Pre-legislative scrutiny by select committees of draft bills or detailed policy statements is recognised as a useful means of testing government policy, and an increasingly effective process for enhanced parliamentary scrutiny of the executive. For example, as part of this process, the Joint Committee on Human Rights considers draft bills at the pre-legislative stage and reports to both Houses on their compatibility with Convention rights.