ABSTRACT

Reviewing the doctrine of ministerial responsibility from the Crichel Down affair in 1954 to the current time, the Committee produced 34 conclusions and recommendations. In the Committee’s view, it was not possible to distinguish absolutely between areas in which a minister is personally responsible (and blameworthy) and areas in which the minister is constitutionally accountable.45 Further, the Committee concluded that ‘proper and rigorous scrutiny and accountability’ is a more important feature of ministerial responsibility than parliament’s ability to force that minister’s resignation.