Special Advisers Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Special Advisers

Lord Grocott Excerpts
Monday 7th June 2010

(14 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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My Lords, these advisers are the personal appointments of Cabinet Ministers. Their job is to help Cabinet Ministers to do their job even more effectively than they would otherwise have done if they had not had such an appointment.

Lord Grocott Portrait Lord Grocott
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My Lords, I am not sure that the Leader of the House answered the question put by my noble friend Lord Campbell-Savours precisely. The question is really this: if any Minister, in relation to his or her activities in connection with a special adviser is seen to be in breach of the Ministerial Code, would it be the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister who would have to exercise disciplinary action against them?

Lord Strathclyde Portrait Lord Strathclyde
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My Lords, in the first instance it is up to the Minister who appointed the special adviser, but if there was a most serious breach of the code, I am sure that it would be for the Prime Minister to take a view.