"Questions of Procedure for Ministers" (Hansard, 31 July 1997)

§ Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Prime Minister how many revisions have been made to "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" since May 1992; what paragraphs were revised and in what way; what factors underlay each revision; and on what dates each revision was announced to Parliament. [10406]

§ The Prime Minister
Three amendments to "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" have been made since May 1992. The first revised paragraphs 118 to 123 and was announced to the House on 21 July 1994,Official Report, column 551. The second, which revised paragraph 1 was amended after debate on the then Government's response to the first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life Cm2931 and announced on 2 November 1995, Official Report, column 456. The most recent amendment was again to paragraph 1 and was set out in the then Government's response to the second report from the Public Service Committee on ministerial accountability and responsibility, HC 67, published 5 November 1996, the publication of which was announced to the House on 7 November 1996 Official Report, column 594. The background to the changes was set out in the statements to the House at the time and, in the case of the latter change, the Government response to the Public Service Select Committee report.

§ Mr. Ashton
To ask the Prime Minister whether he has issued a new edition of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" to his ministerial colleagues. [12268]

§ The Prime Minister
I have issued to ministerial colleagues a successor document to "Questions of Procedure for Ministers" called the "Ministerial Code—a Code of Conduct and Guidance on Procedures for Ministers". I expect all Ministers to work within the letter and spirit of this code, in order to uphold the highest standards of honesty and propriety which the British people fairly expect of those in public life. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
I have also issued to my ministerial colleagues, "Guidance on the work of the Government Information Service"—a document which brings together in one place the guidance on the entire range of the Government information service's work. Copies of this have also been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.