Tag Archives: Public Administration Committee

Reducing the size of government

Lord Norton 10/03/2011 – 12:05 pm

I gave evidence to the Public Administration Committee in the Commons last November as part of its inquiry into Smaller Government: what do ministers do? and was subsequently appointed as a specialist adviser to the committee in order to assist in the drafting of the report.  The report has now been published, arguing that reducing the number of ministers in the Commons will increase the effi […]

Written at 12:05 pm on 10/03/2011, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: ,

Comments (7)

Committee exchanges

Lord Norton 30/11/2010 – 8:59 pm

Last Tuesday, I gave evidence, along with Peter Riddell and Professor Robert Hazell, to the Public Administration Committee in the Commons on whether or not there were too many ministers.  We were agreed that there are too many, with the number now appointed, along with Parliamentary Private Secretaries, creating too great a payroll vote in the House.  The needs of government patronage take pre […]

Written at 8:59 pm on 30/11/2010, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: , , , ,

Comments (12)

'No way to undertake the task of constitutional reform'

Lord Norton 22/03/2010 – 3:43 pm

The Easter recess dates have been announced and we now seem to be working to the following timetable.  The House rises for the Easter recess on Tuesday 30 March.   It returns on Tuesday 6 April, when it is assumed the election will be announced, with 'wash-up' taking place from then until Thursday 8 April.  Parliament will then rise, with  dissolution taking place on Monday 12 April.  Gi […]

Written at 3:43 pm on 22/03/2010, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: , ,

Comments (24)

The Iraq inquiry

Lord Norton 22/06/2009 – 4:35 pm

On 11 June, the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) in the Commons held a seminar, drawing on former diplomats, those who had chaired inquiries, and MPs and peers, in order to discuss how an inquiry into the Iraq war could and should be conducted.  I was one of the participants.  It was an extremely productive gathering. The Prime Minister's statement on 15 June that an inquiry wil […]

Written at 4:35 pm on 22/06/2009, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: , , ,

Comments (9)

Parliamentary lobbying

Lord Norton 11/01/2009 – 6:44 pm

As I mentioned in my previous post, we discussed lobbying at this year's Study of Parliament Group meeting.  The focus of the debate was last week's report of the Public Administration Committee in the Commons recommending, among other things, a mandatory register of lobbyists.  A point made in defence of lobbyists was that, though parliamentary outreach was important, there were already a grea […]

Written at 6:44 pm on 11/01/2009, by Lord Norton


Also tagged: ,

Comments (8)