Propriety of governance in light of Greensill

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 11 May 2022 Closed: 9 Oct 2023 Parliament page
The collapse of Greensill Capital and the subsequent revelations about its relationship with government and Whitehall have raised significant concerns about the propriety of governance in this country. In April 2021, PACAC launched an inquiry into the effectiveness of rules to prevent conflicts of interest and regulation of access by … Read more
13 Recommendations
29 Conclusions
2 Reports
9 Oral sessions
7 Letters
9 Events
Activity timeline 28 events
25 Jul
2023
Correspondence
25 Jul
2023
Correspondence
21 Jul
2023
Report published
2 Dec
2022
Report published
12 Jul
2022
Oral evidence
12 Jul
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
28 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
28 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
9 Jun
2022
Oral evidence
9 Jun
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
17 May
2022
Oral evidence
17 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 9 sessions
12 Jul 2022
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH
28 Jun 2022
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
Darren Tierney · Department for International Trade Simon Case CVO · Cabinet Office
9 Jun 2022
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
Rt Hon Lord Pickles · Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
17 May 2022
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
Rt Hon Sir Peter Riddell CBE · Cabinet Office
15 Mar 2022
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Propriety of Governance in Light of Greensill (Ministerial Code)
Sir Alex Allan · House of Commons Sir Philip Mawer · House of Commons
11 Jan 2022
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
The Lord Evans of Weardale KCB DL · Committee on Standards in Public Life
2 Nov 2021
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
Nigel Boardman
13 Jul 2021
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
8 Jun 2021
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Propriety of governance in light of Greensill
Bill Crothers · Cabinet Office Ian Watmore · Cabinet Office Sir John Manzoni KCB · Cabinet Office The Rt Hon Lord Maude of Horsham · Member of the House of Lords
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
The Cabinet Secretary denied that there is a lack of resource dedicated to compliance issues...
The Cabinet Secretary denied that there is a lack of resource dedicated to compliance issues in Government but admitted that there is a “brigading issue” of making them work together. We accept that Nigel Boardman’s proposal for a Compliance Function … Read more
Government Response
The Government states it is not bringing forward new primary legislation to underpin the roles, remits, and codes of standards bodies, failing to provide an update on addressing the 'brigading issue'.
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2 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
The threat of legal action and the resulting sanction for breaching the Business Appointment Rules...
The threat of legal action and the resulting sanction for breaching the Business Appointment Rules would, in our view, be a sufficient deterrent to ensure that such action would be needed only rarely.
Government Response
The government's response discusses the Model Services Contract and HM Treasury guidance on Novel Financing Arrangements, implementing Boardman review recommendations related to Supply Chain Finance, which is unrelated to the recommendation.
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9 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
The Commissioner for Public Appointments should be placed on a statutory basis in an Act...
The Commissioner for Public Appointments should be placed on a statutory basis in an Act of Parliament at the earliest opportunity. The legislation should make clear that the Commissioner’s role is to ensure that public appointments made by Ministers are … Read more
Government Response
Minister must therefore retain the ultimate right to make a determination on whether or not a Minister has breached the Ministerial Code. The Independent Adviser's role is to provide advice to support that decision making.
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12 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
We have seen the extensive scope for Ministerial discretion in the public appointments process and...
We have seen the extensive scope for Ministerial discretion in the public appointments process and that, in addition to the self-restraint of Ministers, the role of the Commissioner has been vital in ensuring that the principles in Governance Code have … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees that a MoU or Framework Document is essential to clearly set out the roles and responsibilities for it and ACoBA, which is unrelated to the conclusion regarding Ministerial discretion in the public appointments process.
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14 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
Too often, the Government has appeared to approach the pre-appointments process as a tick box...
Too often, the Government has appeared to approach the pre-appointments process as a tick box exercise rather than an important component in the public appointments process. The Committee’s patience in this respect is not limitless. We are aware that this … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses reforming the Register of Consultant Lobbyists.
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15 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
To improve transparency, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case told the Committee that he considered the suggestion...
To improve transparency, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case told the Committee that he considered the suggestion that a register of direct appointments be maintained and published as “an obvious thing to do”.167 We agree and recommend that departments begin to compile … Read more
Government Response
The government response discusses new guidance on Non-Corporate Communication Channels and reporting requirements for official business, but it does not address the recommendation to compile and publish registers of direct appointments.
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18 Recommendation Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
Following the resignation of Rt.
Following the resignation of Rt. Hon. Suella Braverman MP as Home Secretary for leaking restricted material and her subsequent reappointment only a few days later, the Government has said the new Independent Adviser will not investigate matters surrounding her resignation … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses reforming the regulation of public appointments.
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22 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
The position of the Prime Minister in relation to their compliance with the Ministerial Code...
The position of the Prime Minister in relation to their compliance with the Ministerial Code is a complex one. Whilst the Independent Adviser can initiate investigations into any suspected breach of the Code and should be able to issue private … Read more
Government Response
The government discusses the role of the Commissioner and other ethics watchdogs, and states that Ministers’ nominated candidates for these roles should require the endorsement of the relevant Select Committee, failing to address the conclusion regarding the Prime Minister's compliance with the Ministerial Code.
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25 Conclusion Not Addressed
Fourth Report - Propriety of Gover…
The purpose of a stronger means of enforcing standards should not be seen by those...
The purpose of a stronger means of enforcing standards should not be seen by those in public life as a substitute for values, nor codes of conduct as the only guide to acceptable behaviour for those in public life. Individuals … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses improving transparency around lobbying.
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Government Response AI assessment · 25 of 13 classified
Accepted 3
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 8
Not Addressed 9
Rejected 4
Total 13 recs + 29 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
25 Jul 2023 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the Government Response - Propriety of Governance in Light of Greensill, dated 20.7.23
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25 Jul 2023 From committee Letter to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on the Government's response to PACAC report on Greensill (and other matters), dated 21.7.23
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23 Jun 2021 To committee Letter from Suzanne Heywood on Propriety of governance in light of Greensill, dated 14.6.21
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23 Jun 2021 To committee Letter from John Manzoni on Propriety of governance in light of Greensill, dated 15.6.21
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25 May 2021 Correspondence with Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary on propriety and ethics in Government, dated 27.4.21, 14.5.21 and 20.5.21
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26 Apr 2021 To committee Letter from Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary on management of outside interests by the Civil Service, dated 23.04.21
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26 Apr 2021 To committee Letter from Chair to Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary on Audit of Civil Service dual roles and secondments, dated 15.4.21
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