Fast Stream UK Government Structure & Policy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the constitutional significance of the Sewel Convention?
- The UK Parliament will not normally legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the devolved legislatures (Correct answer)
- Westminster retains supreme authority over all legislation in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- The Scottish Parliament can veto UK legislation that affects Scotland
- Devolved administrations must seek Treasury approval before setting tax rates
Correct answer: The UK Parliament will not normally legislate on devolved matters without the consent of the devolved legislatures
The Sewel Convention (now in statute for Scotland) means Westminster normally seeks legislative consent from devolved legislatures before legislating on devolved matters.
Question 2: Which of the following is a function of the Cabinet Office?
- Supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet, coordinating government policy across departments (Correct answer)
- Managing the NHS and public health policy in England
- Overseeing immigration and border control
- Administering the welfare benefits system
Correct answer: Supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet, coordinating government policy across departments
The Cabinet Office supports collective government decision-making and coordinates cross-departmental work. The other functions belong to DHSC, the Home Office and DWP respectively.
Question 3: What is the purpose of the Ministerial Code?
- To set out the standards of conduct expected of ministers, including their relationship with civil servants (Correct answer)
- To define the powers and limits of the Prime Minister's authority
- To govern the conduct of special advisers in government
- To provide guidance to civil servants on serving ministers
Correct answer: To set out the standards of conduct expected of ministers, including their relationship with civil servants
The Ministerial Code governs the behaviour of ministers, including their responsibilities to Parliament, Cabinet, and civil servants. The Civil Service Code governs civil servants.
Question 4: In the UK, which document sets out the spending plans of government departments for a given period?
- The Spending Review (Correct answer)
- The Budget
- The Autumn Statement
- The Public Accounts report
Correct answer: The Spending Review
The Spending Review (now the Spending Review and sometimes Multiyear Spending Review) allocates resource and capital budgets to departments over a set period.
Question 5: What is the role of a Special Adviser (SpAd)?
- A political appointee who advises ministers on policy and communications, exempt from normal civil service rules on impartiality (Correct answer)
- A senior civil servant seconded to a minister's private office
- An independent expert appointed by the Cabinet Secretary to advise on specific policy areas
- A parliamentary researcher who assists with constituency work
Correct answer: A political appointee who advises ministers on policy and communications, exempt from normal civil service rules on impartiality
SpAds are temporary civil servants who can offer political advice to ministers. They are exempt from the impartiality requirement but are governed by the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the 'Osmotherly Rules'?
- Guidance on how civil servants should give evidence to parliamentary select committees (Correct answer)
- Rules governing the allocation of Short Money to opposition parties
- Conventions on the relationship between ministers and permanent secretaries
- The protocol for handling classified documents in government departments
Correct answer: Guidance on how civil servants should give evidence to parliamentary select committees
The Osmotherly Rules (formally 'Guidance on Select Committees') govern how officials give evidence to committees, including what they can and cannot say.
Fast Stream UK Government Structure & Policy 2
What is the constitutional significance of the Sewel Convention?