Codes of Conduct
Oral Answers to Questions — Cabinet Office
11:30 am

Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, Labour)

What plans he has for the (a) ministerial and (b) civil service code of conduct.

Oliver Letwin (Minister of State, Cabinet Office; West Dorset, Conservative)

The ministerial code and civil service code set out the standards of conduct expected of Ministers and civil servants. They are published for the House and were last published in May 2010.

Michael McCann (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, Labour)

I am grateful to the Minister for that response, but does he concede that a review of both codes is necessary to ensure that Ministers cannot hide behind civil servants when failures occur and, most importantly, that senior civil servants do not avoid scrutiny by using political independence as a camouflage for frustrating Government policy?

Oliver Letwin (Minister of State, Cabinet Office; West Dorset, Conservative)

The hon. Gentleman asks an important question. Clause 1 of the ministerial code makes it abundantly clear that no Minister can hide behind anything as

“Ministers have a duty to Parliament to account, and to be held to account, for the policies, decisions and actions of their departments and agencies”.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General has recently issued the first steps in the civil service reform programme, which seek to enlarge the area of accountability for senior civil servants to include direct accountability both for the quality of their policy advice and for its implementation.

Fiona Bruce (Congleton, Conservative)

Does the Minister agree that it is for the Prime Minister to decide whether to initiate an investigation of an alleged breach of the ministerial code and that it is for Parliament to hold him to account?

Oliver Letwin (Minister of State, Cabinet Office; West Dorset, Conservative)

Yes, I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Indeed, that system has served us well and is, I believe, accepted by the independent adviser on ministers interests.