Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish an updated edition of the Cabinet Manual.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is aware of the function of the Cabinet Manual and we will keep this under review.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the Regency Act 1937.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Government has no plans to amend the Regency Act.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which, if any, prerogative powers have been removed using statute law; and on what occasions.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Royal Prerogative is the residual power inherent in the Sovereign, and which is now exercised mostly on the advice of Ministers. It may be divided into the following broad categories: constitutional or personal prerogatives and prerogative executive powers.
The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill, which is currently going through your Lordship’s House, will make the Royal Prerogative powers relating to the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a new Parliament exercisable again, as if the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 had never been enacted. We have a sound legal basis for the position that prerogative powers can be revived, and there is no doubt on this question if this is made clear in statute. Clause 2 of the Bill makes the necessary express provision accordingly.
Parliament can and has legislated to modify, abolish, or supersede Royal Prerogative powers. It is rare that statutes abolish Royal Prerogative powers explicitly. It is, therefore, a matter of legal judgement whether a prerogative is abridged by implication.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which, if any, prerogative powers have been restored using statute law; and on what occasions.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Royal Prerogative is the residual power inherent in the Sovereign, and which is now exercised mostly on the advice of Ministers. It may be divided into the following broad categories: constitutional or personal prerogatives and prerogative executive powers.
The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill, which is currently going through your Lordship’s House, will make the Royal Prerogative powers relating to the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a new Parliament exercisable again, as if the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 had never been enacted. We have a sound legal basis for the position that prerogative powers can be revived, and there is no doubt on this question if this is made clear in statute. Clause 2 of the Bill makes the necessary express provision accordingly.
Parliament can and has legislated to modify, abolish, or supersede Royal Prerogative powers. It is rare that statutes abolish Royal Prerogative powers explicitly. It is, therefore, a matter of legal judgement whether a prerogative is abridged by implication.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they define a prerogative power.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Royal Prerogative is the residual power inherent in the Sovereign, and which is now exercised mostly on the advice of Ministers. It may be divided into the following broad categories: constitutional or personal prerogatives and prerogative executive powers.
The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill, which is currently going through your Lordship’s House, will make the Royal Prerogative powers relating to the dissolution of Parliament and the calling of a new Parliament exercisable again, as if the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 had never been enacted. We have a sound legal basis for the position that prerogative powers can be revived, and there is no doubt on this question if this is made clear in statute. Clause 2 of the Bill makes the necessary express provision accordingly.
Parliament can and has legislated to modify, abolish, or supersede Royal Prerogative powers. It is rare that statutes abolish Royal Prerogative powers explicitly. It is, therefore, a matter of legal judgement whether a prerogative is abridged by implication.
Asked by: Viscount Stansgate (Labour - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision of Sir Jeremy Farrar not to participate in subsequent meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
We can confirm that Sir Jeremy has stood down from the Covid SAGE activation. SAGE continues to provide the Government with independent expert scientific and technical advice.