The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on parliamentary inquiries. It said that it did not share the committee's view that it was more legitimate, and served the interests of accountability more effectively, for parliament – rather than the executive – to inquire into the actions of executive government.
Source: Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry: Government Response to the Committee's Ninth Report, Eleventh Special Report (Session 2007-08), HC 1060, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2008-Oct
A report by a committee of MPs said that the Constitutional Renewal Bill would be a 'landmark' piece of legislation, opening up some of the main prerogative powers of the Executive to parliamentary approval and scrutiny.
Source: Constitutional Renewal: Draft Bill and White Paper, Tenth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 499, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Jun
The government confirmed (in the draft Queen's Speech) plans to introduce a Constitutional Renewal Bill, designed to place the civil service on a statutory footing, and establish an Independent Commission for the Civil Service; reform the role of the Attorney General, who would no longer be able to give a direction to prosecutors in individual cases, save in certain exceptional circumstances; and reduce the role of the Lord Chancellor in judicial appointments below the level of the High Court.
Source: Preparing Britain for the Future: The government's draft legislative programme, Cm 7372, Office of the Leader of the House of Commons, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Draft Queens Speech | Amendments | MOJ press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-May
A report by a committee of MPs said that, in the case of major changes to the machinery of government, new secondary legislation should be subject to a debate and vote in Parliament to ensure proper scrutiny and analysis of the consequences.
Source: Machinery of Government Changes: Further Report – With the Government Response to the Committee's First Report of Session 2007-08, Eighth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 514, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2008-May
A report by a committee of MPs said that Parliament should be able to bypass ministers and launch its own inquiries into issues of exceptional public concern, where the government was 'reluctant' to submit itself to scrutiny.
Source: Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry, Ninth Report (Session 2007-08), HC 473, House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2008-May