A new book examined recent procedural and constitutional changes affecting the law-making function of Parliament.
Source: Alex Brazier (ed.), Parliament, Politics and Law Making: Issues and developments in the legislative process, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Summary | Hansard Society press release
Date: 2004-Nov
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on ministerial accountability and Parliamentary questions. It welcomed the acknowledgement that there was a greater presumption to openness within government as a result of the introduction of the code of practice on access to government information. It said that the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in January 2005 would bring still further openness to government.
Source: Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions: Government Response to the Committee's Third Report, First Special Report (Session 2003-04), HC 1262, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2004-Nov
A report by a committee of peers urged greater public involvement in the process of scrutinizing draft legislation, and consistent examination of the impact of legislation 2-3 years after it was enacted.
Source: Parliament and the Legislative Process, Fourteenth Report (Session 2003-04), HL 173, House of Lords Constitution Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Oct
A paper called for an extension of pre-legislative scrutiny, in order to further strengthen the way in which Parliament made the law.
Source: Alex Brazier, Pre-legislative Scrutiny, Hansard Society (020 7955 7459)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Jul
Labour peers proposed to curb the powers of the House of Lords, to help prevent the blocking or delaying of contentious legislation. Bills would be subject to strict timetables, and the power of delay would be sharply curtailed.
Source: The Guardian, 21 July 2004
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jul
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on ministerial accountability to Parliament. It said it agreed with the committee's assessment that the crown prerogative offered 'much needed flexibility to govern', and that ministers needed executive powers which enabled them to react quickly - sometimes in complex and dangerous circumstances.
Source: Government Response to the Public Administration Select Committee's Fourth Report of the 2003-4 Session: Taming the Prerogative: Strengthening Ministerial Accountability to Parliament (HC422), Department for Constitutional Affairs (020 7210 8500)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2004-Jul
The government reportedly decided to abandon immediate plans to expel the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.
Source: The Guardian, 19 March 2004
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
A report by a committee of MPs acknowledged the greater presumption in favour of openness within government since the mid-1990s, as a result of the introduction of the code of practice on access to government information: but it noted the constraints applied by government on the way it provided information to Parliament. A second report said that comprehensive legislation should be drawn up which would require government within six months to list the prerogative powers exercised by ministers: the list would then be considered by a parliamentary committee, and appropriate legislation would be framed to put in place statutory safeguards where necessary.
Source: Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions, Third Report (Session 2003-04), HC 355, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Taming the Prerogative: Strengthening ministerial accountability to Parliament, Fourth Report (Session 2003-04), HC 422, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO
Links: Third report | Fourth report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar
A report by a committee of senior MPs said that government policy advisers and senior civil servants should be allowed to give evidence to House of Commons inquiries.
Source: Annual Report for 2003, First Report (Session 2003-04), HC 446, House of Commons Liaison Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Mar