§ Mr. RadiceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Government's response to the second report of the Select Committee on Public Service of Session 1995–96 on ministerial accountability and responsibility (HC313). [3501]
§ Mr. FreemanThe Government have submitted their response to the report from the Public Service Committee on ministerial accountability and responsibility, and the Committee is arranging for the response to be published today.
The Government are grateful to the Select Committee for undertaking this investigation which, as envisaged by the President of the Board of Trade in the debate on 26 February, Official Report, column 593, has provided a helpful basis for the Government's consideration of the recommendations on ministerial accountability made by Sir Richard Scott in his report.
The Government reaffirm their commitment to arrangements under which it will remain properly accountable to Parliament. The Government's response to the Committee's report is addressed to this shared democratic objective.
The Government note the Committee's decision to follow what it describes as a pragmatic approach in setting out a "working definition" of ministerial responsibility, reflected in a proposed resolution of the House. The Government agree with many of the principles underlying the working definition, and share the Committee's view that there could be value in the House making explicit how it expects Ministers to discharge their responsibilities to Parliament. The Government will initiative further discussion on a cross-party basis to this end with a view to bringing forward an appropriate motion in due course.
The Government believe that effective scrutiny and accountability are secured by the giving of a full account through a rigorous policy on openness. The Government agree with the Committee on the central importance of the "Code of Practice on Access to Government Information" and it will now proceed, in accordance with the Committee's recommendations, to ensure that throughout Government the code is followed as the clear, recognised minimum standard for providing information to Parliament, and in setting out the reasons for withholding information, on those occasions when this is. necessary.