Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 July 2025

Letter from Sir Laurie Magnus CBE, Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards on Ministerial Statements and the Ministerial Code Inquiry, dated 30.6.25

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Ministerial Statements and the Ministerial Code

Summary

Sir Laurie Magnus, Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, responds to the PACAC inquiry into ministerial statements and the Ministerial Code. He confirms paragraph 9.1 of the Code is sufficiently clear but notes it requires interpretation of 'most important announcements'. He declines to provide specific guidance on the principle, stating this falls outside his remit as an advisor focused on individual ministerial conduct rather than government policy decisions.

Key findings

Paragraph 9.1 of the Ministerial Code on major policy announcements is 'clear and consistent' but requires interpretation of what constitutes 'most important announcements'
Magnus declines to provide guidance on the principle, asserting this is outside his terms of reference as his role focuses on individual conduct, not collective government decisions
The Ministerial Code is the Prime Minister's document; the PM is the ultimate judge of standards and appropriate consequences for breaches
No specific guidance currently exists to assist ministers in judging compliance with paragraph 9.1; ministers may seek advice from permanent secretaries and departmental officials
Magnus would not accept requests to investigate potential breaches of the announcements section or determine sanctions, which remain the PM's prerogative

Tone

Procedural

Topics

ministerial-standardsparliamentary-proceduregovernment-accountabilityconstitutional-governance

Key actors

Sir Laurie Magnus CBE, Simon Hoare MP, Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Commons, Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Notable line

“I do not consider that guidance of this nature would be in line with my terms of reference, particularly, as noted above, in relation to determining what are the "most important announcements of government policy".”

Key Quotes

“The Ministerial Code is the Prime Minister's document. It sets out the standards of behaviour the Prime Minister expects of those who serve in Government and provides guidance …”
— Sir Laurie Magnus CBE · Explaining the nature and ownership of the Ministerial Code

“On balance, I consider the wording of paragraph 9.1 to be clear and consistent with the level of detail found elsewhere in the Code, although I note that the wording requires a degree of interpretation as to what constitutes the "most important announcements".”
— Sir Laurie Magnus CBE · Responding to whether paragraph 9.1 is sufficiently clear

“I see my role as being focussed on the conduct of ministers as individuals and not on the actions, policies and collective decisions of the Government, for which ministers are, of course, rightly held to account by Parliament.”
— Sir Laurie Magnus CBE · Explaining the scope of his role and why he will not provide guidance on policy announcements

“It is for the Prime Minister to determine any sanctions applied in relation to the Ministerial Code.”
— Sir Laurie Magnus CBE · Clarifying where enforcement authority lies

View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗