Machinery of government changes : further report with the Government response to the Committee's first report of session 2007-08, eighth report of session 2007-08, report and appendix, together with formal minutes

This report continues a conversation with the Government on whether the Prime Minister should continue to exercise near-absolute power to reorganise the Civil Service Departments.

The Government's further response points to a stumbling block to parliamentary control over the organisation of Government Departments under the existing system.

This is that, constitutionally and legally: 'the organisation and functions of a Government Department are fundamentally a reflection of the responsibilities of the minister in charge of the Department.'Parliamentary control over the organisation of Government would effectively mean control over the organisation of the Cabinet.

However, this current model is not the only possible model nor has it always been in use in this country.

Canada uses primary legislation to establish, dissolve, and change significant functions transferred between them through primary legislation.It is possible, in a Westminster-style parliamentary system, to provide for parliamentary control of the Executive's power to reorganise the Civil Service. Reorganising Government Departments in line with ministerial responsibilities may be long-standing practice but, for major changes to the machinery of government, new secondary legislation should be subject to a debate and vote in Parliament in order to ensure proper scrutiny and analysis of the consequences.