The Prime Minister's adviser on ministers' interests

The Prime Minister's adviser on ministers' interests PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215043375
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 52

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Book Description
In this report the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) considers the role of the independent adviser on ministers' interests and concludes that role is not independent in any meaningful sense. The adviser on Ministers' interests advises Ministers on compliance with the Ministerial Code and carries out investigations of alleged breaches of the Code when requested by the Prime Minister. The report highlights the lack of independence in three areas: the role: the independent adviser lacks independence in practice, as he is appointed personally by the Prime Minister, is supported from within the Cabinet Office, and cannot instigate his own investigations; the appointment process: the closed process by which the adviser is appointed is not suitable for an 'independent' role; the choice of candidate: the choice of a recently retired senior civil servant, Sir Alex Allan, is not a suitable choice for a role which requires demonstrable independence from Government. PASC started the investigation after recent resignation of the former Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox: regrettably the then independent adviser Sir Philip Mawer was not consulted in the course of the events leading up to the resignation of Liam Fox. The retirement of Sir Philip shortly after the resignation of Dr Fox provided an opportunity to demonstrate the value the Prime Minister places on having complaints against Ministers investigated in a demonstrably independent way, but this opportunity was missed and the appointment of Sir Alex only became public knowledge after the event.

The Prime Minister's adviser on ministers' interests

The Prime Minister's adviser on ministers' interests PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215043375
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 52

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this report the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) considers the role of the independent adviser on ministers' interests and concludes that role is not independent in any meaningful sense. The adviser on Ministers' interests advises Ministers on compliance with the Ministerial Code and carries out investigations of alleged breaches of the Code when requested by the Prime Minister. The report highlights the lack of independence in three areas: the role: the independent adviser lacks independence in practice, as he is appointed personally by the Prime Minister, is supported from within the Cabinet Office, and cannot instigate his own investigations; the appointment process: the closed process by which the adviser is appointed is not suitable for an 'independent' role; the choice of candidate: the choice of a recently retired senior civil servant, Sir Alex Allan, is not a suitable choice for a role which requires demonstrable independence from Government. PASC started the investigation after recent resignation of the former Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox: regrettably the then independent adviser Sir Philip Mawer was not consulted in the course of the events leading up to the resignation of Liam Fox. The retirement of Sir Philip shortly after the resignation of Dr Fox provided an opportunity to demonstrate the value the Prime Minister places on having complaints against Ministers investigated in a demonstrably independent way, but this opportunity was missed and the appointment of Sir Alex only became public knowledge after the event.

Investigating the Conduct of Ministers

Investigating the Conduct of Ministers PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Public Administration Select Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215515063
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
The post of Prime Minister's Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests was created in March 2006, and extended by the incoming Prime Minister in July 2007. Part of the new Independent Adviser's role is to investigate allegations that the Ministerial Code has been breached. This Report considers the suitability of the new mechanism for investigating alleged breaches of the Code. The creation of an investigatory capacity is welcomed as an important step. However, the Committee identifies limitations on the Independent Adviser's powers which cast doubt over the effective ability of any holder of the post to secure public confidence. The Independent Adviser should be free to instigate investigations rather than, as at present, being dependent on being invited to do so by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister should also undertake that findings of investigations into the conduct of ministers will routinely be published. Constitutional watchdogs such as this new investigator need to be demonstrably independent of those they regulate. The post of Independent Adviser meets none of the criteria associated with independence. The holder of the post, Sir Philip Mawer, has been appointed by the Prime Minister on a non-specific term of office which can be terminated by the Prime Minister at any time and on any grounds. He has no staff of his own, no office and no budget, but relies on the Cabinet Office for all these things. There has been no open advertisement process and no parliamentary involvement in the appointment. Until these defects are remedied, the Committee has difficulty accepting the suggestion that the new investigator can meaningfully be considered to be independent.

Politics and administration

Politics and administration PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Public Administration Select Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215033314
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 62

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Book Description
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 good repair for effective government and proper accountability. Recent difficulties have highlighted long-standing concerns about the way in which responsibility and accountability are divided in the UK political system, and the report proposes a number of steps aimed at contributing to its good working in combining an independent civil service with political accountability for its operation. Amongst the 27 conclusions and recommendations made, the report calls for a new "public service bargain" underpinned by a governance code which seeks to clarify the respective responsibilities and expectations of ministers and civil servants, including the need for a Civil Service Act to clarify the constitutional position of the civil service.

Government and Information Rights

Government and Information Rights PDF Author: Patrick Birkinshaw
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1784518972
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 967

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Book Description
Government and Information: The Law Relating to Access, Disclosure and their Regulation is the leading text offering comprehensive and practical advice on the access, disclosure and retention of government records under UK, EU and ECHR requirements. It is essential reading for all those dealing with public authority information. The fifth edition is extensively revised following numerous developments in both UK and EU law as well as the ever expanding case law on information rights under statutory, Convention and common law provisions. Legislation: Justice and Security Act 2013; Crime and Courts Act 2013 (s 34 in relation to press standards following Leveson); Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015 Investigatory Powers Bill 2016; Environmental Information Regulations 2004; General Data Protection Regulation 2016; Key cases since the last edition include: Evans v Attorney General [2015] UKSC 21 - the SC ruled that the Attorney General had acted unlawfully in issuing a veto preventing disclosure Kennedy v Charities Commission [2014] UKSC 20 - Supreme Court extended the ambit of the common law in relation to access to information and transparency Case 362/14 Schrems [2015]) - involving data transfer to the USA PJS v Newsgroup Newspapers ltd [2016] UKSC 26 – developing the law of personal privacy

Government Communication

Government Communication PDF Author: Karen Sanders
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1849665028
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
Government communication is a curiously neglected area of discursive analysis. No considered examination of the subject exists which provides either an account of the contemporary governmental landscape or an explanation of the common and divergent themes on both a domestic and international basis. This volume aims to fill that gap, providing a concise and illuminating case-study based review of government communication. It will be divided into three sections to reflect differences in both geography and political allegiances, scrutinizing continental Europe, Anglo-American traditions and newly emerging democracies. Offering a global and thematic account, it is an indispensable resource for all students of political communication.

Justice of the Peace

Justice of the Peace PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Justices of the peace
Languages : en
Pages : 634

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Book Description


People who Live in the Dark

People who Live in the Dark PDF Author: Andrew Blick
Publisher: Methuen Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 390

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Book Description
The role of the special adviser is currently one of the most controversial issues in British politics. This study of special advisers brings an historical as well as analytical perspective to a hot topic.

The Stationery Office Annual Catalogue

The Stationery Office Annual Catalogue PDF Author: Stationery Office (Great Britain)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 808

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Book Description


Standards Matter

Standards Matter PDF Author: Committee on Standards in Public Life
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780101851923
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
The Committee for Standards in Public Life felt that the time was right to undertake a review of the key lessons that have been learnt since the Nolan Committee's first report (ISBN 9780101285025) was published in 1995 about how to improve ethical standards in public life - to stand back and reflect on what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. The report argues that much of the basic infrastructure to improve standards is now in place. Statements of key principles and codes of conduct have been adopted by most public bodies, new regulators have been created or had their existing remits clarified, and awareness of principles such as integrity, accountability and openness has increased considerably. The Committee believes standards of behaviour in many areas of public life have improved. But the Committee finds it disturbing that concerns continue to be raised about the integrity of so many of the country's key institutions or those within them; and the evidence of the last few years and months suggests that there is still much to do before the high standards in public life to which we all aspire are fully internalised in the cultures of all our public institutions. The report concludes that the need now is not for more principles, codes or regulators but rather for the existing arrangements to be more consistently and actively implemented.

English Public Law

English Public Law PDF Author: David Feldman
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199227934
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 1439

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Book Description
First published in 2004, English Public Law has become the key point of reference on English public law for lawyers in the UK and throughout the world. Now in its second edition, the book acts as an accessible first point of reference for practitioners approaching a public law issue for the first time, while simultaneously providing a lucid, concise and authoritative overview of all the key areas of public law (constitutional, administrative, human rights, and criminal law) within one single portable volume. The second edition has been completely updated to take account of all key legislative and procedural changes since 2004, including: BLThe Constitutional Reform Act 2005 BLrecent higher courts decisions concerning public law and human rights BLthe Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 Written and edited by a team of acknowledged experts on English law, the book offers proven reliability and as part of the Oxford Principles of English Law Series, is the companion volume to the second edition of English Private Law edited by Professor Andrew Burrows FBA. The book is an ideal quick reference for practitioners to fall back on when a client raises a point outside their normal area of expertise as well as for academics, overseas libraries, and practitioners overseas who want a one stop resource on English public law. A supplement published between editions, will ensure that the book is kept up to date.