§ Q3. Mr. Higginsasked the Prime Minister whether Ministers are responsible for decisions taken by officials of central Government Departments to whom Parliament has given discretionary powers.
§ The Prime MinisterThe extent to which Ministers are responsible for the exercise by officials of powers directly vested in those officials by Parliament varies according to the provisions in the relevant statutes. Where Parliament has placed the responsibility for certain decisions of an administrative or judicial kind directly on officials, Ministers are responsible for keeping under review the satisfactory working of the arrangements.