§ Mr. Williamsasked the Prime Minister if she will define ministerial responsibility as currently practised in respect of a Minister's responsibility for the actions of his or her officials; and if she has made any changes to the concept since 1979.
§ The Prime MinisterThe doctrine of ministerial responsibility has been established by constitutional precedent and development over the years, and is set out in standard works about Government in this country. It is not for any particular Prime Minister to define.
§ Mr. Williamsasked the Prime Minister what are the numbers, grades and functions of those officials whose actions are covered by her specific area of ministerial responsibility.
§ The Prime MinisterAs to ministerial responsibility, I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my earlier reply. I have overall departmental responsibility for the Cabinet Office, including the Central Statistical Office and the Management and Personnel Office, and the Prime Minister's Office. Information about numbers, grades and functions is available from Estimates and from standard books of reference such as the "Civil Service List".