Public administration

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on public administration. 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

DateDescription
17.07.2013Lobbying: 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.
10.06.2013Public procurement: small businesses and savings
This note briefly sets out the European and domestic public procurement rules before summarising Government efforts to use its procurement spend to support small businesses. It also sets out recent reforms to procurement processes which have aimed to drive down costs by centralising contracts with major government suppliers.
31.01.2013Commercial 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.
20.11.2012The Ombudsman- the developing role in the UK
This Note is designed to provide background on the work of the Ombudsman, and examines recent developments in the role.
03.09.2012Investigatory inquiries and the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921
The Inquiries Act 2005 made significant changes to the system of public inquiries in the UK and is fully covered in Standard Note 06410. The subject of parliamentary inquiries is covered in Standard Note 6392 Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry. This Note looks at other types of inquiries which can be established, statutory or non-statutory, and at the predecessor to the Inquiries Act, the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 which had formed the main basis for statutory inquiries over some 80 years.

Research Papers

DateDescription
14.06.2011Public 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.
09.03.2007The 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
20.05.2003Whither the civil service?
Whither the civil service? . House of Commons Library Research Paper 03/49.
19.11.2001Parliamentary standards
Parliamentary standards. House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/102.
15.11.2001Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Bill, Part XII:Anti-corruption legislation (Bill 49 of 2001-02)
Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Bill, Part XII:Anti - corruption legislation (Bill 49 of 2001/02). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/92.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
19.01.2012Accountability of the Bank of England: response from the Court of the Bank of England to the twenty-first...
Government response. Treasury Select Committee report [Commons]
26.10.2011Appointment of Robert Jenkins to the interim Financial Policy Committee.
Treasury Select Committee report [Commons]
14.09.2011Change in Government: the agenda for leadership.
Public Administration Select Committee report [Commons]
14.07.2011Select committees and public appointments.
House of Commons Liaison Committee report [Commons]
09.06.2011Cabinet Manual.
Government response. Public Administration Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
07.06.2010PUBLICATION OF SALARIES AND REMUNERATION PACKAGES OF PERSONS PAID FROM PUBLIC FUNDS
That this House believes that all salaries and remunerations packages paid to individuals, either directly or indirectly, from public funds exceeding three times the current national ...
08.03.2010SUPERMARKET OMBUDSMAN AND DAIRY FARMERS
That this House welcomes the announcement of the introduction of a supermarket ombudsman as called for by the Competition Commission report of August 2009; notes that 75 per cent. of ...
20.07.2009CLOSURE OF ACCRINGTON AND CHORLEY TAX OFFICES
That this House expresses concern that the award-winning tax offices in Accrington and Chorley are due to close; believes that this decision is unjustified and will reduce the level ...
31.03.2009ORDNANCE SURVEY
That this House recognises that Ordnance Survey provides a valuable and well respected public service; welcomes the fact that Ordnance Survey exceeded its target for operating profit ...
19.03.2009TRANSFER OF PUBLIC DATA AND ENCRYPTION
That this House notes the several recent instances in which public data held by various public bodies has been lost, and in instances of data loss such as that at HM Revenue and Customs, ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
04.11.2010Public Bodies Bill (HL Bill 25 of 2010-11). LLN 2010/027
Public Bodies Bill. House of Lords Library Note 2010/027

POST Papers

DateDescription
17.09.2012Measuring National Wellbeing
This POSTnote summarises the latest research on measuring national wellbeing, its components and causes, and examines some policy implications.
01.09.2009Futures and Foresight, May 2009
This POSTnote examines the key characteristics of futures work and its use by governments and parliaments.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords