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The governance of Britain
This report, from the Public Administration Select Committee looks at the Governance of Britain Green Paper, as published on 3rd July 2007 (Cm.7170, ISBN 9780101717021). The stated aim of the document, by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, was "a new constitutional settlement that entrusts more power to Parliament and the British people", with two objectives as the bedrock to this approach: (i) to hold power more accountable; (ii) to uphold and enhance the rights and responsibilities of the citizen. The Committee commends the statement and the wide-ranging programme as set out in the Green Paper, and the call for wide consultation and cross-party input. The Committee sees the goals of a new constitutional settlement as ambitious and laudable, but which will require considerable care in establishing a rebalance, in the Committee's view, of the relationship between Government, Parliament and the public.
Politics and administration
This report examines the operational and constitutional relationship between government ministers and civil servants, including the issues of ministerial and civil service accountability, the role of ministers in making appointments and the position of special advisers, and whether it is time to give the civil service a proper constitutional footing. It considers what is meant by politicisation, whether politicisation is an entirely negative phenomenon, and, if it is not, what kinds of politicisation would be appropriate in the UK. The Committee notes that the UK civil service in held in high regard, both at home and abroad, and that it is essential that the governing relationship is kept in...
The Ministerial Code
The Committee recommends that the Ministerial Code should be given constitutional status but recognises that the Prime Minister is the final judge of ministerial conduct and performance. However this does not preclude accountability and there should be an annual meeting with the Liaison Committee where the working of the Code could be examined. The remit of the parliamentary Commissioner for Standards should be expanded to include advice to ministers on the Code and the Parliamentary Ombudsman should be empowered to investigate alleged breaches of the Code. It is also recommended that the Code be amended in respect of contact with lobyists and the announcement of Government policy.
Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions
The Committee wrote to Government Departments in May 2001, asking them to explain why they refused to provide information in response to some Parliamentary questions. Only seven responses were received by November 2001 and the last one was received in March 2002 and this long delay is unacceptable. The Committee recommends that where Departments withhold information under an exemption of the Code of Practice, they should cite the relevant exemption in their written answers. Wherever possible, the full answer to a written question should be placed on the official record. One of the reasons given for withholding information is "commercial confidentiality", for instance, in connection with PFI ...
Parliament and public appointments
This Report welcomes and responds to the Government's proposal to involve select committees in public appointments by inviting committees to hold non-binding pre-appointment hearings with nominees for key positions. The Report clarifies the purpose of these hearings: to expose nominees to parliamentary and public scrutiny before the final ministerial decision on the appointment, to increase the likelihood that those appointed will be effective in their accountability to Parliament and the public. The Report also establishes criteria to determine which posts should be subject to these hearings, and identifies major auditors, ombudsmen, regulators and inspectors, as well as those responsible f...
