Plans for reform of the Business Appointment Rules were published by the Government on 20 July 2023. Ministers and civil servants leaving office are subject to rules regarding appointment in other sectors. These rules exist to prevent former civil servants and ministers being able to profit from their knowledge of and contacts within Whitehall, and to prevent any perception of wrongdoing. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA) administers the rules.
This Commons Library briefing paper looks at the UK Ministerial Code, the role of the Independent Adviser and the process for investigating breaches of the Code.
This paper answers FAQs on new government support schemes for energy bills, including: the Energy Price Guarantee, Energy Bills Support Scheme, Energy Bills Discount Scheme, Energy Bill Relief Scheme and Alternative Fuel Payments.
Research Briefing
A briefing paper on some "key issues" in the forthcoming elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly
Research Briefing
This Commons Library Briefing Paper sets out the role and remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. It summarises the changes made to the public appointments system in recent years and debates about the development of the role. William Shawcross, the new Commissioner, was appointed in 2021.
Research Briefing
Flags, national and other, have an ongoing cultural significance. The Union Flag, commonly known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Flying of flags is not the subject of statute law in England, Wales or Scotland. Advice is issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on flying of flags on government buildings, apart from those which are the responsibility of a devolved administration. This was recently updated so that the Union flag will normally be flown every day. In Northern Ireland there is legislation on flag flying.
Research Briefing
As of March 2019, 295 public bodies were in operation across the UK government. Most public bodies within the United Kingdom are established and operated by the government, with varying levels of autonomy and ministerial responsibility according to their classification. Brexit means that many functions previously carried out by EU agencies will become the responsibility of existing UK bodies. A number of new public bodies are also being created to manage additional responsibilities after EU exit.
Insight
How are honours awarded and how has Covid-19 affected this year's list?
Research Briefing
Ministerial directions are a potential part of the process of approving expenditure of public money. Use of ministerial directions is rare, but preparations for Brexit have included an instruction to Accounting Officers to include them in planning for approval of spending in advance of Royal Assent to relevant legislation.
Research Briefing
Since the 1979 General Election, there have been 2,128 people elected to the House of Commons. Of these, 403 have been women and 1,725 have been men. This publication lists all Members of the House of Commons starting from the 1979 General Election which took place on the 3 May. It is a new edition of our 2010 publication.
Research Briefing
This Commons Library briefing is no longer being updated, in this format. Please see Constituency Casework article for the information.
Research Briefing
Honours awarded today are mostly part of the Order of the British Empire, which was established in 1917. Almost from the beginning there was controversy about who should receive honours and suggestions of impropriety, particularly in the award of honours for political service. This briefing provides an introduction to the various types of honours. It sets out the recent revival of the award of honours for parliamentary and political service. It also explains how an honour may be removed and summarises reviews of the system.
Research Briefing
This paper covers the committee stage of the Wales Bill 2016-17 in the House of Commons.
Research Briefing
This House of Commons Library Briefing Paper provides information on the Supreme Court's role in devolution. The paper explains how cases on devolution reach the Supreme Court and summarises some of the most important cases since 2009.
Research Briefing
The Northern Ireland (Welfare Reform) Bill is part of a process to stabilise the political institutions in Northern Ireland. It stems from a package agreed between the UK and Irish Governments and the largest Northern Ireland parties: the Fresh Start agreement. This paper gives a guide to the Bill, and to the agreement.
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