Individual Ministerial Responsibility

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Individual Ministerial Responsibility

A minister is 'accountable' to Parliament, for his/her actions and everything that occurs in their department

Ministers must uphold the principle of collective responsibility.

Ministers must always give accurate information to Parliament, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Ministers must require their civil servants to also give accurate evidence before parliament, in accordance with the Civil Service Code.

The requirements for individual ministerial responsibility are not legally binding, but it is likely that the minister in question, who does not follow the individual ministerial responsibility criteria, would be sanctioned and even thrown out of his/her political party.

Ministerial Responsibility for departmental maladministration

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