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". |
