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
31.01.2013	Commercial Lobbyists (Registration and Code of Conduct) Bill 2012-13 [Bill 39 2012-13]
	The Commercial Lobbyists (Registration and Code of Conduct) Bill 2012-13 is a Private Member's Bill promoted by Thomas Docherty. It seeks to create a statutory register for commercial lobbyists and a legally enforceable code of conduct. It was presented on 25 June 2012, and is scheduled for second reading on 1 February 2013.
29.01.2013	FoI and Ministerial vetoes
	The Lord Chancellor, Jack Straw, issued the first ministerial veto in relation to a FoI request on 23 February 2009 for the contents of the legal advice on military action against Iraq. Two subsequent vetoes were issued protecting communications on devolution issues and a fourth on. A fourth veto was issued on 8 May 2012 blocking the release of the NHS Transitional Risk Register and a fifth in July 2012 blocking extracts from Cabinet minutes on the military action against Iraq in 2003. The most recent, the sixth, was on 16 October 2012, relating to the release of correspondence from Prince Charles to Government departments. This Standard Note traces the history of the veto within FoI legislation and summarises comparative examples abroad.
18.01.2013	Government policy announcements
	The Ministerial Code states that when Parliament is in Session, the most important Ministerial announcements should be made in Parliament. However there have been occasions when, for whatever reason, announcements have not been delivered in Parliament first. Often in such cases the Speaker has made a statement to the House deprecating what has happened and sometimes calling on the minister concerned to account for his/her actions.
07.12.2012	Coalitions at Westminster
	This standard note looks at coalition governments at Westminster.
26.11.2012	Honours for political service
	This Note examines developments in honours for political service.

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".