Parliamentary Accountability: A Study of Parliament and Executive Agencies [Paperback]

Written by members of the Study of Parliament Group, this book assesses Parliament's response to the reorganisation of much of the civil service into 'executive agencies'. Chief executives have been given freedom to take operational decisions. Yet Ministers insist that they themselves remain constitutionally responsible for the work of the agencies. After reviewing Parliament's mechanisms and considering several case-studies, the authors conclude that Parliament has yet to exploit fully the opportunities for greater accountability which the new arrangements provide.Notes on the Contributors - The Origins of the Next Steps Programme; G.Drewry & P.Giddings - Ministerial Responsibility and the 'Next Steps' Agencies; R.Pyper - 'Next Steps' and Parliamentary Scrutiny; B.Winetrobe - The Treasury Committee and 'Next Steps' Agencies; P.Giddings - Departmental Select Committees and the 'Next Steps' Programme; D.Natzler & P.Silk Financial Accountability: An Audit; P.Baines - MP and Agencies: Parliamentary Questions and the PCA; P.Evans & P.Giddings - The Department of Environment Agencies; G.Jones, with J.Burnham & R.Elgie - The Department of Social Security and its Agencies; P.Greer - Accountability and the Employment Service Agency; N.Lewis - Review and Conclusions; P.Giddings - Index