By Vivienne Russell | 31 October 2011
MPs have slammed the government for refusing to cut the number of ministers in line with the reduction in MPs.
The public administration select committee said the government’s response to its March report on smaller government was ‘disappointing’.That report urged the government to cut the number of ministers by 8 and the number of parliamentary private secretaries by 26. PPSs are MPs who support ministers in their parliamentary duties.
But the government’s response, issued today, states only that ministerial numbers would be kept ‘under review’.
PASC chair Bernard Jenkin said: ‘There are more unpaid ministers in this government than ever – described to us by one eminent witness, Peter Riddell, as “an abuse”. There are also therefore more ministers in the Commons than ever. There are more PPSs than we consider necessary. This is more about exercising patronage over MPs, and thus being able to influence debates and votes, than it is about efficiency and accountability.’
The committee believes it should be possible in the longer term to cut the number of ministers in both the Commons and Lords down to 80 from the current 121. It reiterated its recommendation for the government to conduct a ‘specific, fresh review’ of ministerial numbers by the mid-point of the Parliament.
The PASC also criticised the government’s refusal to modernise the doctrine of ministerial accountability in line with its policies on localism and decentralisation.
In its response, the government agrees that ‘the number of ministers should be dictated by need, and… this… continues to be carefully considered in making ministerial appointments’.
It adds: ‘As the committee recognises, this government has set out a radical agenda for the reform of public services, and ministers will be required to implement these changes. The government will continue to keep under review the size of government, and will carefully consider the committee's recommendations as it does so.’
