Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 14 March (HL6673), whether Mr Hopkins importuned any persons to sign letters to national newspapers concerning the European Referendum or the consequences of a national vote for leaving the EU; and if so, how many (1) were importuned, (2) signed, and (3) declined to do so.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
I refer the Noble Lord to the Prime Minister's answer to the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Ms Dorries) on 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 32. As set out in the Civil Service Code, it is the role of the civil service to support the Government of the day in developing and implementing its policies.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser, have played any part in the drafting of letters subsequently signed by retired military officers or business people and published in national newspapers in the last year.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
In carrying out government business, Ministers, officials and special advisers must abide by their respective Codes of Conduct.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser, importuned any persons to sign letters concerning the European Referendum or the consequences of a national vote for leaving the EU in national newspapers; and if so, (a) how many were importuned, (b) how many signed, and (c) how many declined to do so.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
I refer the Noble Lord to the Prime Minister's oral response to the Hon Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 22 February 2016: Column 32.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether members of the "political cabinet" have access to (1) matters covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989, or (2) other governmental matters not within the public domain.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Paragraph 4.8 of the Cabinet Manual sets out that political Cabinets are convened by the Prime Minister, but they are not attended by officials. Sensitive papers, such as those covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989, are not distributed to political Cabinets.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the relationship is of the "political cabinet" to the Cabinet.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Paragraph 4.8 of the Cabinet Manual sets out that political Cabinets are convened by the Prime Minister, but they are not attended by officials. Sensitive papers, such as those covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989, are not distributed to political Cabinets.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures they have put in place to ensure that legislative proposals have been adequately discussed and agreed by committees of the Cabinet and the Cabinet before being announced.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee is tasked with overseeing the Government's legislative programme. The Government does not comment on the proceedings of Cabinet or its committees.
Information on the legislative process is available on the gov.uk website. A copy of ‘Guide to Making Legislation’ has been attached for ease.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 18 August (HL1666), which section of the Ministerial Code deals with the expression of personal views which are not Government policy whilst answering questions at the despatch box.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
I refer the noble peer to the answer I gave on 26 September, Official Report, Column WA514.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 18 August (HL 1666), which section of the Ministerial Code deals with the expression of personal views which are not government policy whilst answering questions at the Despatch Box.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
The Ministerial Code sets out the duties and responsibilities of Ministers. It is of course not unprecedented for Ministers to express personal views at the Despatch Box.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that ministers speaking from the despatch box in their capacity as ministers should not express personal opinions in conflict with Government policy; if so, how that policy is enforced; and, if not, whether they intend to introduce such a policy.
Answered by Baroness Northover
The Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers on their accountability to Parliament.
Asked by: Lord Tebbit (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comment by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 1 July (HL Deb, col 1709), whether they consider the Franks inquiry into the Falklands War to have been thorough and vigorous.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
As I stated on 16 July (HL Column WA127), the Franks Report was an important Inquiry for the public record, establishing events and learning lessons.