Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 20 January 2025 (HL3881), how is the position that (1) the government committee advises the Sovereign directly, and (2) the view of the Prime Minister’s principal private secretary carries equal weight to all other members on the government committee, compatible with the established constitutional position that the Prime Minister is the principal adviser to the Sovereign and the leader of His Majesty’s Government.

The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) was established by King George VI to provide objective advice to the Sovereign on the operation of the honours system.

The Sovereign is the fount of all honour and the honours system itself operates under the Royal Prerogative. The HD Committee is an advisory body only. The Committee’s advice does not carry the weight that is accorded to ministerial advice; nor does it have the power to take decisions as Ministers do. The Committee has historically recognised the need to reflect the position of the Government and the membership of the Prime Minister’s Principal Private Secretary ensures the Prime Minister's views can be properly represented.