HC Deb 13 May 2003 vol 405 c168
25. Mr. Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight)

When the code of practice on ministerial conduct was last reviewed. [112591]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Mr. Douglas Alexander)

A revised ministerial code was published in July 2001. Since then, the Government have agreed to two amendments to the code.

Mr. Turner

I thank the Minister for that answer, but in view of what the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short) said, is it not time for another review? She said that "errors" flow from the style and organisation of our Government"; that there is centralisation of power into the hands of the Prime Minister"; that there are "diktats" and policy initiatives being rammed through Parliament".—[Official Report, 12 May 2003; Vol. 405, c. 38.] If we do not need a change in the code of conduct, do we need a bigger change in the Ministers?

Mr. Alexander

There is little that I can usefully add to the comments of the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood yesterday. I fail to see that they have a direct bearing on the ministerial code, as the hon. Gentleman suggests.