Central government

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on central government. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
17.07.2013	Lobbying: July 2013 update
	This Note covers the debate over a statutory register of lobbyists, and gives an update on the Government's plans to legislate.
16.07.2013	Public records, freedom of information and the Royal Family
	This Note outlines exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act relating to the Royal Family.
12.07.2013	Freedom of Information requests
	From 1 January 2005, individuals were given the right to make requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This note gives a brief summary of the rights in relation to Freedom of Information to enable requesters to understand the statutory background.
04.07.2013	Fees for FoI requests
	This Note sets out the legal position on charging fees for Freedom of Information requests.
02.07.2013	The office of Deputy Prime Minister
	This Note gives the background to the office and the role of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Research Papers

Date	Description
14.06.2011	Public Bodies Bill [HL]
	The Public Bodies [HL] Bill is largely enabling legislation. It would allow ministers, by order, to abolish, merge or transfer the functions of the public bodies listed in the appropriate schedules to the Act. It is the main legislative vehicle for taking forward the Government's review of public bodies, the results of which were published in October 2010.
15.06.2009	The Departmental Select Committee System
	On 25 June 1979 the House of Commons agreed to establish a new system of departmental select committees to scrutinise the expenditure, administration and policy of government departments. This paper briefly sets out the historical background to the departmental select committees system before charting their development over the last 30 years, considering evaluations made of the system and recent proposals for reform.
16.05.2008	Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL] 2007-08
	Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill (HL) 2007-08. (Bill 103 of 2007-08). House of Commons Library Research Paper 08/46.
23.04.2008	Parliamentary Involvement in Public Appointments
09.03.2007	The Statistics and Registration Service Bill, Committee Stage Report
	The Statistics and Registration Service Bill, Committee Stage Report. House of Commons Library Research Paper 07/25

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
15.02.2012	Role and functions of departmental Chief Scientific Advisers.
	Science and Technology Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
13.09.2011	The performance of the Ministry of Defence 2009-10.
	Government response. Defence Select Committee; Ministry of Defence report [Commons]
19.07.2011	Ministry of Defence main estimates 2011-12.
	Defence Select Committee report [Commons]
18.07.2011	Home Office - work of the Permanent Secretary.
	Home Affairs Select Committee report [Commons]
14.07.2011	Role of the FCO in UK government.
	Government response. Foreign and Commonwealth Office report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
15.12.2010	RENEWED COMPACT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR
	That this House welcomes the publication of the renewed Compact, between the Government and the voluntary sector; notes that it outlines the principles of good partnership working between ...
16.11.2010	WORK EXPERIENCE POSITIONS AT THE HOME OFFICE
	That this House recognises the importance of work experience placements for young people, but believes that those undertaking work experience should not be offered jobs which would ...
14.07.2010	COST OF WRITTEN QUESTIONS
	That this House notes the continuing cost to the public purse of hon. Members tabling substantial numbers of written questions; understands the principle behind limiting the number ...
08.07.2010	GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE COST OF CONFERENCES
	That this House notes that the Departmentfor Work and Pensions spent 115 million on management conferences and external meetings between 2000 and 2010; further notes that most departments ...
07.07.2010	PLACE-BASED BUDGETS
	That this House recognises that there needs to be an urgent and fundamental reform of the relationship between central and local government; commends the work of the Local Government ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
17.01.2011	Debate on 20 January: Constitutional and Parliamentary Effect of Coalition Government
	This Library Note aims to provide background reading for the debate on 20 January 2011: "To call attention to the constitutional and parliamentary effect of Coalition Government".