Downing Street Says » Working Ministerial Statements

The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) told journalists that the Prime Minister had tabled two written ministerial statements today. The first was about the appointment of Sir John Bourn as the independent adviser on ministers’ interests. As journalists no doubt recalled the Prime Minister had announced last week that he would appoint an independent figure. Sir John Bourn was the highly respected Comptroller and Auditor General and he would now advise ministers on ministerial interests and if necessary establish the facts for the Prime Minister. The second that we were publishing, also announced last week, was the details of how the honours system would work now that the Prime Minister would no longer nominate individuals for honours.

Asked about the remit of Sir John Bourn and whom he reported to, the PMOS said that it was a Prime Ministerial appointment. The role would be as described last week, which was to advise ministers and their permanent secretaries on how to handle issues surrounding ministerial interests, and if necessary establish the facts of a case for the Prime Minister. It remained the case that responsibility still lay with ministers to make sure they complied with the ministerial code. The first port of call for ministers would remain the permanent secretary, but Sir John Bourn’s role would be to help and advise both permanent secretaries and ministers. In the end it would still be for the Prime Minister to make decisions about ministerial compliance with the code.

Asked whether Sir John Bourn would respond to events and outside requests or just to the Prime Minister, the PMOS said that you could not have a situation where every single allegation resulted in an investigation – that would be absurd. There had to be a common sense acceptance of when an investigation was needed. Asked whether this was a full time job, the PMOS said it was part time and Sir John Bourn would continue to work at the National Audit Office.

4 Comments »

Major contradiction here. The government has appointed as "independent" adviser someone it feels comfortable with. And Blair sets this "independent" person’s remit and decides that he won’t apparently be open to representations by anyone or about anything outside the magic circle Blair chooses to draw.

Stand by for the usual whitewash job.
Comment by Michael McCarthy — 24 Mar 2006 on 9:28 am | Link
This is a completely pointless appointment, anyway. If Ministers can’t see for themselves where their own conflict of interests lie, and are unable to differentiate between what is ‘legal’ and what is ‘right’ then they shouldn’t be in the job.

This is just another means of shifting the blame for immoral actions onto the shoulders of ‘advisors’. These disgusting people have lost all sense of rectitude and decency.

Presumably if Ministers decide that they have not abided by the ‘Code’ they’ll be able to slap themselves on the wrist and carry on as before. No sanctions and no independence of scrutiny or action by the ‘Advisor’. Blair rules no matter what the machinery.

Out with the lot of them.
Comment by Chuck Unsworth — 25 Mar 2006 on 2:47 pm | Link
You can find the two statements: <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2006-03-23a.33WS.5">http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2006-03-23a.33WS.5</a>
<a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2006-03-23a.34WS.0">http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2006-03-23a.34WS.0</a>
Comment by Francis Irving — 27 Mar 2006 on 6:18 am | Link
My understanding – perhaps I am wrong! – is that Sir John Bourn as Comptroller and Auditor General is an officer of the House of Commons, and paid by and answerable to the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts. It seems especially important that his post and responsibilities are to serve parliament and not the Prime Minister and the Executive. It therefore seems a questionable step and one of dubious constitutionality for the C&AG to accept an important role paid for and anseerable to the Prime Minister concerning the probity of the Prime Minister and the Executive.
Comment by Des McConaghy — 3 Apr 2006 on 11:41 pm | Link

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» Thursday, March 23, 2006

Working Ministerial Statements

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