The role and powers of the Prime Minister

Written evidence submitted by Sir Gus O’Donnell KCB, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service

Thank you for your letter of 24 January, drawing my attention to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee’s inquiry into the role and powers of the Prime Minister. I have read your issues and questions paper with interest, and hope the following submission is useful to the Committee in its inquiry.

The Government agrees with the description of the role and powers of the Prime Minister in the draft Cabinet Manual [1] , published in December 2010.

You asked for some information on the role and functions of the Prime Minister's office . I attach a copy of our business plan for 2010/11 which provides information on the structure and role of the Prime Minister’s office. A business plan for 2011/12 is currently in preparation across the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister’s office, which will include any changes to the role and functions of that office.

You also asked about the number and grades of civil servants working in the Prime Minister’s offic e. I have attached an organisation chart for your information, which gives details of the numbers and grades of civil servants working in the Prime Minister’s office [2] . An updated version of this organisation chart will be published in April and our intention is to update this information regularly.

The issue of placing the issue and governance of passports on a statutory footing is subject to regular review by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). Their consideration has focused on determining any additional public benefits that would accrue from the passport regime being placed on a statutory footing. Legislation would of course increase Parliamentary scrutiny of the passport process, including the withdrawal of passports from individuals but there has been no real public or parliamentary pressure to legislate in this area. It is difficult to point to any public benefits in introducing a Passport Bill. IPS will continue to monitor the position but at this stage, removing the exercise of the prerogative in this area is not a legislative priority for the Government

The Government believes that it is apparent that since the events leading up to the deployment of troops in Iraq, a convention exists that Parliament will be given the opportunity to debate the decision to commit troops to armed conflict and, except in emergency situations, that debate would take place before they are committed. 

2 March 2011