Lessons from the process of government formation after the 2010 general election

Written evidence submitted by The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

Thank you for your letter of 19 October 2010.

My comments are as follows:

· I have no personal information on the civil service’s role in "organising the coalition meetings" other than what has been stated publicly by the Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet

· The papers documenting what role the civil service had in this period, and in particular the Cabinet Manual referred to by the Head of the Civil Service in his evidence, should be made available to the Committee

· I believe that as much information on procedures as can be made available should be in the public domain, and be subject to proper consideration by Parliament and the public.

On conventions and rules, I have said I favour a fixed term Parliament; an elected house of Lords; and I am of the view that we should make progress on moving towards a properly codified constitution.

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

29 November 2010