Select Committee on Public Administration

House of Commons

Select Committee on Public Administration

Formal Minutes

Session 2007–08

The Public Administration Select Committee

The Public Administration Select Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for England, which are laid before this House, and matters in connection therewith, and to consider matters relating to the quality and standards of administration provided by civil service departments, and other matters relating to the civil service.

Current membership

Dr Tony Wright MP (Labour, Cannock Chase) (Chairman)

Mr David Burrowes MP (Conservative, EnfieldSouthgate)

Paul Flynn MP (Labour, Newport West)

David Heyes MP (Labour, Ashton under Lyne)

Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour, Luton North)

Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP (Conservative, Bridgewater)

Julie Morgan MP (Labour, Cardiff North)

Mr Gordon Prentice MP (Labour, Pendle)

Paul Rowen MP (Liberal Democrats, Rochdale)

Mr Charles Walker MP (Conservative, Broxbourne)

Jenny Willott MP (Liberal Democrats, Cardiff Central)

Powers

The powers of the Committee are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SONo146. These are available on the Internet via

Publications

The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at

Committee staff

The current staff of the Committee are Steven Mark(Clerk), Laura Dance (Second Clerk), Pauline Ngan (Committee Specialist), Louise Glen (Senior Committee Assistant), Lori Verwaerde (Committee Assistant) and Miguel Boo (Committee Support Assistant).

Contacts

All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Public Administration Select Committee, Committee Office, First Floor, 7 Millbank, House of Commons, London SW1P 3JA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 5730; the Committee’s email address is

Proceedings of the Committee

THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Julie Morgan / Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Ethics and Standards: the Regulation of Conduct in Public Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2006-07

Draft Special Report [Ethics and Standards: the Regulation of Conduct in Public Life: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2006-07], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government response to the Fourth Report from the Committee in Session 2006-07 was appended to the Report

Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House.

3.Skills for Government: Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2006-07

Draft Special Report [Skills for Government: Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2006-07], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government response to the Ninth Report from the Committee in Session 2006-07 was appended to the Report

Resolved, That the Report be the Second Special Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House.

4.Machinery of Government Changes: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2006-07

Draft Special Report [Machinery of Government Changes: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2006-07], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government response to the Seventh Report from the Committee in Session 2006-07 was appended to the Report

Resolved, That the Report be the Third Special Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House.

5.Whitehall Confidential? The Publication of Political Memoirs: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2005-06

Draft Special Report [Whitehall Confidential? The Publication of Political Memoirs: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2005-06], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government response to the Fifth Report from the Committee in Session 2005-06 was appended to the Report

Resolved, That the Report be the Fourth Special Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House.

6.Work of the Cabinet Office

Ordered, That the National Audit Office’s written evidence on Work of the Cabinet Office be reported to the House.

Ordered, That the National Audit Office be authorised to publish their written evidence on Work of the Cabinet Office, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 135.

Sir Gus O’Donnell KCB, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 20November at 1.45p.m.

TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Mr David Burrowes
Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins / Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Lobbying

Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Lobbying be reported to the House for publication on the internet:

LOB 01 – Joint: the Association of Professional Political Consultants, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Government Affairs Group and the Public Relations Consultants Association

LOB 02 – Public Relations Consultants Association

LOB 03 – Chartered Institute of Public Relations

LOB 04 – Association of Professional Political Consultants

LOB 05 – Foresight Communications

LOB 06 – European Commission

LOB 07 – Bell Pottinger

LOB 08 – Law Society

LOB 09 – Global Government Relations, DLA Piper

LOB 10 – National Union of Journalists

LOB 11 – Consolidated

LOB 12 – Grayling Political Strategy

LOB 13 – JMS

LOB 14 – Bircham Dyson Bell

LOB 15 – Forum of Private Business

LOB 16 – SpinWatch

LOB 17 – Hansard Society

LOB 18 – Luther Pendragon

LOB 19 – Dr William Dinan and Prof David Miller

LOB 20 – CSPL

LOB 21 – Peter Luff MP

3.Third Sector Commissioning

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Third Sector, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 29November at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger / Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Mr Charles Walker

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Specialist Adviser

Ordered: That Professor Justin Fisher be appointed a Specialist Adviser to assist the Committee in its inquiry into Lobbying.

3.Lobbying

John Grogan MP, Peter Luff MP and Stephen Pound MP, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 6 December at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Mr David Burrowes
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins / Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Parliamentary Scrutiny of Public Appointments

Janet Gaymer, Commissioner for Public Appointments and Rt Hon John McFall MP, Chairman of the Treasury Committee, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 11 December at 3.00p.m.

TUESDAY 11 DECEMBER

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Julie Morgan / Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Machinery of Government Changes: A follow-up Report

Draft Report [Machinery of Government Changes: A follow-up Report], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the First Report from the Committee, HC 160.

2.Propriety and Peerages

Draft Report [Propriety and Peerages], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Second Report from the Committee, HC 153.

[Adjourned till Thursday 10 January at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 10 JANUARY

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Mr David Burrowes
Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger / Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Parliament and public appointments: Pre-appointment hearings by select committees

Draft Report [Parliament and public appointments: Pre-appointment hearings by select committees], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Third Report from the Committee, HC 152.

3.Debt of Honour

Written evidence relating to Debt of Honour was ordered to be reported to the House for printing.

4.Propriety and Peerages

Ordered, That the letter dated 18 December 2007 from Sir Gus O’Donnell be reported to the House.

5.Propriety and Peerages – press coverage

The Committee considered this matter.

6.Committee on Standards in Public Life

Sir Christopher Kelly KCB, Chairman, Committee on Standards in Public Life, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 17 January at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 17 JANUARY

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Paul Flynn
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Julie Morgan / Mr Gordon Prentice
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Work of the Committee in 2007

Draft Report [Work of the Committee in 2007], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fourth Report from the Committee, HC 236.

2.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

3.Lobbying

Resolved, That the Committee invite Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP, John Greenway MP and Nick Harvey MP to give evidence in the lobbying inquiry.

4.Third Sector Commissioning

Selwyn Image, Emmaus, Alex Whinnom, Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation and Sylvia Sham, Wai Yin Chinese Women Society; and Stuart Etherington, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Peter Kyle, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and Debra Allcock-Taylor, Directory of Social Change, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 24 January at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 24 JANUARY

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Mr David Burrowes
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Julie Morgan / Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Appointment of Temporary Chairman

Resolved, That in the absence of the Chairman, Kelvin Hopkins should take the Chair of the Committee for the meeting on 31 January.

3.Lobbying

Peter Facey, Unlock Democracy, Dr William Dinan and Professor David Miller, SpinWatch, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 7 February at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 7 FEBRUARY

Members present:

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Kelvin Hopkins / Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker

1.Appointment of Temporary Chairman

In the absence of the Chairman, and in accordance with the resolution of 24 January, Kelvin Hopkins was called to the Chair.

2.Lobbying:Written Evidence

The Committee considered this matter.

3.Cabinet Office proposal to produce a single Annual Report and Accounts

Resolved, That the Committee are content with the proposal for the Cabinet Office to produce a single Annual Report and Accounts.

4.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

5.Lobbying

Lionel Zetter, Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Gill Morris, Association of Professional Political Consultants and Rod Cartwright, Public Relations Consultants Association, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 21 February at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 21 FEBRUARY

Members present:

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Kelvin Hopkins / Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker

1.Appointment of Temporary Chairman

In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Gordon Prentice was called to the Chair.

2.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

3.Lobbying

The Rt Hon Lord Mayhew of Twysden QC DL, Chairman, the Rt Hon Lord Maclennan of Rogart, Member and Tony Nichols, Secretary, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 28 February at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY

Members present:

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins / Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen

1.Appointment of Temporary Chairman

In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Gordon Prentice was called to the Chair.

2.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

3.Lobbying

Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Lobbying be reported to the House for publication on the internet:

LOB 22 – Sir Gus O’Donnell

LOB 23 – Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP

LOB 24 – Hanover

4.Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests

Sir Philip Mawer, Prime Minister’s Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests,gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 6 March at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 6 MARCH

Members present:

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Julie Morgan / Mr Gordon Prentice
Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.Appointment of Temporary Chairman

In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Gordon Prentice was called to the Chair.

2.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

3.Lobbying

Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Lobbying be reported to the House for publication on the internet:

LOB 25 – Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Peter Bingle, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs and Mike Granatt, Luther Pendragon;and Richard Schofield, Law Society and Eben Black, DLA Piper Global Government Relations,gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 12 March at 4.00p.m.

WEDNESDAY 12 MARCH

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Julie Morgan / Mr Gordon Prentice
Paul Rowen
Mr Charles Walker

1.When Citizens Complain

Draft Report [When Citizens Complain], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fifth Report from the Committee, HC 409.

2.Consideration of the 30-year rule review

Resolved, That the Chairman write to the 30-year rule review to convey the Committee’s view on the matter.

3.Correspondence on political memoirs

The Committee considered this matter.

4.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

5.Lobbying

Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Lobbying be reported to the House for publication on the internet:

LOB 26 – Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

6.Appointment of Temporary Chairman

Ordered, That, in the absence of the Chairman, Mr Gordon Prentice should take the Chair of the Committee at any future meeting, unless the Committee otherwise orders.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 19 March at 2.00p.m.

WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Mr David Burrowes
Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins / Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Mr Charles Walker

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Lobbying

Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Lobbying be reported to the House for publication on the internet:

LOB 27 – Letter from Advisory Committee on Business Appointments

3.Better Government

Sir Christopher Foster, Sir Nicholas Monck KCB and Peter Owen CB, Better Government Initiative, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 26 March at 2.00p.m.

WEDNESDAY 26 MARCH

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins / Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger
Mr Gordon Prentice

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Work of the Committee in 2007: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2007-08

Draft Special Report [Work of the Committee: Government Response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2007-08], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government response to the Fourth Report from the Committee in Session 2007-08 was appended to the Report

Resolved, That the Report be the Fifth Special Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House.

3.Political Campaigning by Charities

Greg Clark MP, Ian Leggett, People and Planet and Brian Lamb OBE, Royal National Institute for Deaf People, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 3 April at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 3 APRIL

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Paul Flynn
Kelvin Hopkins
Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger / Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice
Mr Charles Walker

1.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

2.Cabinet Office Autumn Performance Report 2007

Ordered, That the letter dated 25 March 2008 from Sir Gus O’Donnell regarding the Cabinet Office Autumn Performance Report 2007 be reported to the House for publication on the internet.

3.Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry

Rt Hon Lord Hurd of Westwell CH CBE, Rt Hon Lord Owen CH, Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP and Adam Price MP, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 24 April at 9.45a.m.

THURSDAY 24 APRIL

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Kelvin Hopkins
Julie Morgan
Mr Gordon Prentice / Mr Charles Walker
Jenny Willott

1.User Involvement in Public Services

Draft Report [User Involvement in Public Services], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

The Draft Report was agreed to: the Formal Minutes relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Sixth Report from the Committee, HC 410.

2.Future Programme

The Committee considered this matter.

3.Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill

Janet Paraskeva, First Civil Service Commissioner; and Professor Peter Hennessy, Sir Robin Mountfield and Professor Robert Blackburn, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 29 April at 3.00p.m.

THURSDAY 29 APRIL

Members present:

Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair

Paul Flynn
David Heyes
Kelvin Hopkins / Mr Gordon Prentice
Mr Charles Walker

1.Investigating the conduct of ministers

Draft Report [Investigating the conduct of ministers], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.