Government Response template

Government Response to

Report of [name of select committee]

on

[title of report]

Presented to the House of Representatives

In accordance with Standing Order 252

Introduction

An opening remark such as:

1 The government has carefully considered the Committee’s report on…Give details.

2 The government welcomes the Committee’s report which represents a major contribution to the development of policy on…Appropriate for inquiries.

A sentence stating:

3 The government responds to the report in accordance with Standing Order 252.

Any general statements or explanations of the nature and content of the response, such as:

4 The government has taken action on all of the Committee’s recommendations; OR

5 The government has taken action on certain of the Committee’s recommendations, but is as yet unable to respond positively on the recommendations dealing with…because; OR

6 The Committee’s recommendations by nature are long term. The government proposes to examine progress again in…

Recommendations and government response

7 Recommendation 1: [quote committee’s recommendation]

8 Response: [State response. This should be concise and informative. Responses should be framed in terms of how “the government” responds to the issue, with references to the responsibilities of, and action taken by, particular Ministers/departments as appropriate.]

9 Recommendation 2:

10 Response: [etc]

Conclusion

11 Brief summary of overall response.

[Security classification – minimum of In Confidence required]

Office of the Minister for X

Chair, Cabinet Legislation Committee

Government Response to the Report of the XX Committee on [XX Inquiry/Petition]

Proposal

1 This paper seeks approval of the government’s response to the xx Committee inquiry/petition on xx.

Background

2 [Include any background information such as: why the select committee held the review/inquiry, what the petition requested, any interesting information about the committee’s enquiry/consideration of the petition when the report was presented etc]

The XX Committee findings

3 [Discuss the findings of the select committee. This may include reproducing the committee’s recommendations, or may just contain a discussion of them. Detail of why the committee made the recommendations may also be of interest.]

Comment on the XX Committee findings and recommendations

4 [Provide comment on the general tenor of the government’s response to the select committee. Discuss the main points raised in the response. You may wish to do this recommendation by recommendation, or just by way of an overview.]

Timing of the government response

5 The government response must be presented to the House by xx.

Consultation

6 [Provide the usual information required for Cabinet papers.]

Financial implications

7 [Provide the usual information required for Cabinet papers.]

Publicity

8 [Provide the usual information required for Cabinet papers.]

Proactive Release

9 This section should include a statement on whether the Minister proposes to release the paper proactively in whole or in part, or to delay the release beyond 30 business days. Proactive release is subject to redaction as appropriate under the Official Information Act 1982. Refer to the CabGuide page on proactive release for more information. Note that there is no need to include a recommendation noting or seeking agreement to release a paper.

Recommendations

The Minister of xx recommends that the Cabinet Legislation Committee:

1 note that on [date] the [name] Committee presented its report to the House entitled “[title of report]”

2 note that the select committee recommended that the government [recommendations from report];

3 note the submission of the Minister of xx and in particular his/her advice that [summarise the main points of the proposed response];

4 approve the government response, attached to this submission, to the Report of the [name] Committee entitled “[title of report]”;

5 note that the government response must be presented to the House by [date];

6 invite the Minister of xx to present the government response to the House in accordance with Standing Order 252;

7 [for petitions] invite the Minister of XX to write to the petitioner enclosing a copy of the government response to the report of the xx Committee on the petition, after the response has been presented to the House.

Authorised for lodgement

Hon XX

Minister of XX

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO

LAW COMMISSION REPORT ON

[title]

Presented to the House of Representatives

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO LAW COMMISSION REPORT ON [title - as on cover page]

Introduction

An opening remark such as:

"The government has carefully considered the Law Commission's report on xx.”

or

"The government welcomes the Law Commission's report, which represents a major contribution to the development of policy on xx.”

A sentence stating:

"The government responds to the report in accordance with Cabinet Office circular CO (09) 1, entitled Law Commission: Processes for Setting the Work Programme and Government Response to Reports.”

Any general statements or explanations of the nature and content of the response, such as:

"The government has taken [or intends to take] action on the majority of the Law Commission's recommendations.”

or

"The government has taken action on certain of the Law Commission's recommendations but is, as yet, unable to respond positively on the recommendations dealing with xx because of [xx reason].”

or

"The government has carefully considered the Law Commission's recommendations and has identified the need for further work on the issues raised. The government priority for this further work, relative to other higher priorities, means that significant progress on this work is unlikely to be made within the next xx."

Law Commission Report and Government Response

Law Commission Report

[Summarise the key recommendations of the Law Commission's report.]

Government Response

[List the key recommendations of the Law Commission’s report and the government response in turn.]

[For each recommendation or group of recommendations, state the response. This should be concise and informative. Responses should be framed in terms of how "the government" responds to the issue, with references to the responsibilities of and action taken by particular Ministers/departments as appropriate.]

Conclusion

Brief summary of the overall government response.

Recommendations

The Minister for xx recommends that the Cabinet Legislation Committee:

1 note that the Law Commission's (the Commission) report entitled xx was presented to the House of Representatives (the House) on [x date];

2 note that the Commission recommended that the government:

2.1 xx [summarise the key recommendations of the Law Commission's report];

3 note that on [x date]:

3.1 xx [summarise any relevant policy decisions taken, with appropriate minute references];

4 note the submission of the Minister for xx and, in particular, his/her advice that:

4.1 xx [summarise the main points of the proposed government response];

5 approve the proposed government response, attached to the paper, to the Commission’s report entitled xx;

6 note that the government response must be presented to the House by xx;

7 invite the Minister for xx to present the government response to the House.

Authorised for lodgement

Hon John Jones

Minister for X