Source · Select Committees · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Sixth Report - The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
HC 167
Published 15 September 2020
Government response
Sixth Special Report - The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011: Government’s response to the Committee’s Sixth report of Session 2019–21 · published 9 Dec 2020
Recommendations & Conclusions
11
Recommendation
Not Addressed
Para 79
The principle that the Government must have, and retain, the confidence of the elected House...
Recommendation
The principle that the Government must have, and retain, the confidence of the elected House of Commons is fundamental to our system of Parliamentary democracy. The Committee fully endorses the findings of our predecessor Committee on the operation of confidence …
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Government Response Summary
The government provided no substantive response to the committee's recommendation to endorse the findings of a predecessor committee on the operation of confidence.
12
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 80
It is clear that some mix of statue and convention is the best way for...
Conclusion
It is clear that some mix of statue and convention is the best way for this area to be governed, but this requires the actors involved to act in ways which engender trust.
Government Response Summary
The government provided no substantive response to the committee's conclusion about the ideal mix of statute and convention for governance and the need for trust.
13
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 81
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act is compatible with the confidence principle and has not divorced confidence...
Conclusion
The Fixed-term Parliaments Act is compatible with the confidence principle and has not divorced confidence from dissolution. If the House of Commons wanted to trigger dissolution by removing confidence from the Government, it has that power under the Act. However, …
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Government Response Summary
The government provided no substantive response to the committee's conclusion about the FTPA's compatibility with the confidence principle and the resulting unacceptable situations.
14
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Para 82
Providing the House of Commons with the power to set the date of an election...
Conclusion
Providing the House of Commons with the power to set the date of an election could provide one route to avoid unnecessary paralysis at times of deadlock.
Government Response Summary
The government's response is boilerplate text and does not address the conclusion.