House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee Minutes of Proceedings Session 2005–06 The Public Administration Select Committee The Public Administration Select Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, of the Health Service Commissioners for England, Scotland and Wales and of the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, 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 Mr David Burrowes MP (Conservative, Enfield Southgate) Paul Flynn MP (Labour, Newport West) Julia Goldsworthy MP (Liberal Democrats, Falmouth and Camborne) Mr Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger MP (Conservative, Bridgewater) David Heyes MP (Labour, Ashton under Lyne) Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour, Luton North) Julie Morgan MP (Labour, Cardiff North) Mr Mr Gordon Prentice MP (Labour, Pendle) Grant Shapps MP (Conservative, Welwyn Hatfield) Jenny Willott MP (Liberal Democrats, Cardiff Central) Powers The Committee is one of the select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 146. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. 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 http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/public_administration_ select_committee/remit.cfm Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Eve Samson (Clerk), Clive Porro (Second Clerk), Lucinda Maer (Committee Specialist), Anna Watkins (Committee Assistant), Sue Holt (Secretary) and Phil Jones (Senior Office Clerk). 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 3284; the Committee’s email address is [email protected]. 1 Proceedings of the Committee Thursday 14 July 2005 Members present: Paul Flynn Mr Mr Gordon Prentice David Heyes Grant Shapps Kelvin Hopkins Dr Tony Wright Julie Morgan The Committee deliberated. Members disclosed their interests, pursuant to the resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. (See Annex.) Dr Tony Wright was called to the Chair. Resolved, That the Committee takes note of the rules relating to the confidentiality of Committee proceedings. — (The Chairman.) Ordered, That Strangers be admitted during the examination of witnesses unless the Committee otherwise orders.—(The Chairman.) Ordered, That those who submit memoranda to the Committee have leave to publish them, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No.135 (1), except where the Committee otherwise orders. —(The Chairman.) [Adjourned till Wednesday 20 July at 10.00 a.m. Thursday 20 July 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Paul Flynn Julie Morgan David Heyes Mr Mr Gordon Prentice Kelvin Hopkins Grant Shapps Julia Goldsworthy Jenny Willott Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger The Committee deliberated. Members disclosed their interests, pursuant to the resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. (See Annex.) 2 Ordered, That Sir Gus O’Donnell do attend the Committee upon Tuesday 11 October 2005.—(The Chairman.) Resolved, That the Committee do inquire into Policy Making in Government; and The Politicisation of the Civil Service.—(The Chairman.) [Adjourned till Tuesday 11 October at 2.15 p.m. Tuesday 11 October 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Mr David Burrowes Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Paul Flynn Julie Morgan Julia Goldsworthy Mr Mr Gordon Prentice David Heyes Grant Shapps Kelvin Hopkins Jenny Willott 1. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration’s special report: A Debt of Honour. Resolved, That the Committee do take oral evidence from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Permanent Secretary for Government Communications, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the First Civil Service Commissioner. 2. Oral Evidence Civil Service Effectiveness: Sir Gus O’Donnell KCB, Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Thursday 20 October at 10.30 a.m. 3 Thursday 20 October 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Mr David Burrowes Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Paul Flynn Julie Morgan Julia Goldsworthy Mr Mr Gordon Prentice David Heyes Grant Shapps Kelvin Hopkins Jenny Willott 1. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter. 2. Oral Evidence Ombudsman Issues and Tax Credits: Ms Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Ombudsman, Ms Trish Longdon, Deputy Ombudsman and Mr Bill Richardson, Deputy Chief Executive, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, gave oral evidence. Mr David Varney, Executive Chairman, Mr Paul Gray CB, Deputy Chairman and Ms Sarah Walker, Director of Benefits and Credits, HM Revenue and Customs, gave oral evidence; Ms Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Ombudsman, was in attendance and answered questions. [Adjourned till Thursday 27 October at 9.45 a.m. Thursday 27 October 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Mr David Burrowes Kelvin Hopkins Paul Flynn Julie Morgan Julia Goldsworthy Jenny Willott David Heyes 1. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Politics and Administration: Ministers and Civil Servants. 4 Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Governing the Future. 2. Oral Evidence Review of Government Communications: Howell James, Permanent Secretary, Government Communications, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Tuesday 1 November at 9.45 a.m. Tuesday 1 November 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Mr David Burrowes Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Paul Flynn Julie Morgan Julia Goldsworthy Mr Gordon Prentice` Kelvin Hopkins Jenny Willott 1. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence on the Implication of Identity Cards for Delivery of Public Services. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into the Publication of Political Memoirs. 2. Specialist Advisers Resolved, That the Committee issue a press release inviting prospective specialist advisers to put their names forward. 3. Oral Evidence Work of the Cabinet Office: Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Thursday 10 November at 9.45 a.m. 5 Thursday 10 November 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Mr David Burrowes Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Paul Flynn Julie Morgan Julia Goldsworthy Grant Shapps David Heyes Jenny Willott Kelvin Hopkins 1. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Ethics and Standards 2. Oral Evidence Public Administration: Ministers and Civil Servants: Baroness Fritchie of Gloucester DBE, Commissioner for Public Appointments; Mr Ed Straw, PricewaterhouseCoopers (speaking in a personal capacity), gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Thursday 17 November at 9.45 a.m. Thursday 17 November 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Mr David Burrowes Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Julia Goldsworthy Julie Morgan David Heyes Mr Gordon Prentice Kelvin Hopkins Grant Shapps 1. Response to the Cabinet Office consultation on reform of the Ombudsman The Committee considered this matter 2. Consideration of the Draft Report: The Attendance of the Prime Minister’s Strategy Adviser before the Public Administration Select Committee Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph. 6 Paragraphs 1 to 17 read and agreed to. Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House. Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Report. Ordered, That the Chairman do make the report to the House. 3. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter. 4. Oral evidence Publication of Political Memoirs: Lord Wilson of Dinton, GCB, and Professor Peter Hennessy, Queen Mary, University of London, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Thursday 24 November at 9.45 a.m. Thursday 24 November 2005 Members present: Dr Tony Wright, in the Chair Paul Flynn Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Julia Goldsworthy Julie Morgan David Heyes Jenny Willott Kelvin Hopkins 1. Future Programme The Committee considered this matter Resolved, That the Committee visit Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden in March or April 2006 in connection with its inquiries into Governing the Future and Ethics and Standards, and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the said visit. 2. Oral evidence Implication of ID Cards for Public Services: Tony Collins, Executive Editor, Computer Weekly, Richard Tyndall, Mouchel Parkman and Professor Patrick Dunleavy, London School of Economics, gave oral evidence. [Adjourned till Thursday 1 December at 9.45 a.m. 7 Thursday 1 December 2005 Members present: