Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the role of Counsellors of State; who are the present holders of this office; under what legislation they operate; and how the current office holders can be changed.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Section 6 of the Regency Act 1937 provides for a power to delegate Royal functions to Counsellors of State in the event of the Sovereign being either overseas, or intended to be overseas, or in the event of illness (stopping short of incapacity).
The Regency Act itself specifies that the Counsellors of State shall be the wife or husband of the Sovereign (if the Sovereign is married), and the four persons who are next in the line of succession to the Crown.
Changes to the list of those who can be appointed as Counsellors of State would require amending the Regency Act.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks made by Lord True on 6 December (HL Deb, col 1640), what was the case that was determined relating to the operation of the Ministerial Code; which (1) ministers, and (2) officials, were involved; and what plans they have, if any, to place a copy of (a) a report by the independent advisor concerning the Transport Secretary's declaration of private interests, or (b) any other report, in the Library of the House.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
My answer to the noble Lord’s question on 6 December 2021 referred to recent correspondence from the Rt Hon Member for Ashton-under-Lyne, in connection with the Government's policies towards General Aviation. The Minister for Aviation's response to the Opposition is a matter of public record.
The Independent Adviser, in relation to the question about the Secretary of State for Transport's interests, confirmed that he was content that the Transport Secretary had followed the process required under the Ministerial Code for the declaration of his private interests. It was this matter to which I was referring.