Great Britain. Parliament House of Commons. Public Administration Select Committee
Published: 2008-06-04
Total Pages: 94
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In this report the Public Administration Select Committee makes constructive suggestions for improving the Government's proposals for put forward in the March 2008 white paper on constitutional renewal and the accompanying draft bill. At present many important ministerial powers - the 'prerogative powers' may be excercised without parliamentary approval. The Committee's aim here is to open up the secret powers of the Executive to parliamentary scrutiny and approval. The proposals for the Civil Service were welcomed and it is felt that the purpose of legislation would be to protect the core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity, impartiality - and its key characteristics - recruitment on merit and the ability to serve governments from across the political spectrum. Suggestions to strengthen the draft further in this respect were made. The Government's proposals on the other prerogative powers were felt to be disappointingly limited and felt to contain loopholes which would allow the Exectuive to bypass Parliament at their discretion. The Committee found that the Government's draft resolution on war-making powers leaves too much discretion in the hands of the Prime Minister and describe the need to seek retrospective approval for urgent military operations as the price of democracy. The Committee also found, in relation to the making of treaties, that the Government's proposed Parliamentary safeguard could be ignored at will. They also urge swift progress on legislation on the procedures for issueing passports and a wider review of the prerogative powers.