Member

The law officers’ convention is an important principle —enshrined in Erskine May and the Ministerial Code and upheld by successive Administrations—that preserves the ability of government to receive full and frank legal advice from its legal advisers in confidence. I am therefore unable to comment on the specific details of legal advice provided by the law officers, other than to note that of course decisions on policy are taken by the relevant Secretary of State, as has been the case under successive Governments. That process sits alongside the system relating to ministerial interests, overseen by the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, who was provided with the Attorney-General’s list of conflicts following his appointment. I can reassure the House that the Attorney General’s Office will continue to apply the most rigorous standards in its conflicts process”.