Government and the Governed
Six talks by Sir Douglas Wass, GCB, Permanent Secretary to HM Treasury and Joint Head of the Home Civil Service until his retirement in spring this year.
4: Critical Opposition - Part of the Polity
Parliament the supreme assembly, supervising and controlling the executive government, is one of the hallowed visions bequeathed to us by Bagehot and Mill. Recent governments, however, have been largely free of the need to justify policy in detail. Since 1979, departmental select committees have been at work. Has Parliament's ability to supervise and control been improved? Should it be further helped by giving resources and staff to the Opposition?
(Repeated: Sunday, R3) The transcript of this lecture is in THE LISTENER published tomorrow.