Internal governance

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Corporate governance in central government

Effective corporate governance is essential to any well run organisation. Good governance leads to good management, good performance, good stewardship of public money, good public engagement and, ultimately, good outcomes. Government departments are not the same as for-profit corporations, but they face many similar challenges and they need to be business-like. They can do this by tapping into the expertise of senior leaders with experience of managing complex organisations in the commercial private sector.

Departmental boards should be balanced, with roughly equal numbers of Ministers, senior civil servants, and non-executives from outside government.

Boards will give advice and support on the operational implications and effectiveness of policy proposals, focusing on getting policy translated into results using the following precepts:

  1. •

    leadership—articulating a clear vision for the department and give clarity about how policy activities contribute to achieving this vision, including setting risk appetite and managing risk

  2. •

    effectiveness—bringing a wide range of relevant experience to bear, including through offering rigorous challenge and scrutinising performance

  3. •

    accountability—promoting transparency through clear and fair reporting

  4. •

    sustainability—taking a long-term view about what the department is trying to

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Latest Public Law News

SLSC reports on SI scrutiny in the year to July 2025

The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) has published its 35th Report of Session 2024–2026, providing an overview of its scrutiny of secondary legislation during the first year of the current Parliament. Between 17 July 2024 and 22 July 2025, the Committee considered 655 statutory instruments and other types of secondary legislation, drawing 68 (10.4%) to the special attention of the House. The report outlines areas of improvement and identifies recurring issues affecting the quality and transparency of secondary legislation. It notes examples of good practice in some departments, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and encourages all departments to strengthen oversight, maintain institutional knowledge and make use of available training. A concluding report is set to be published at the end of the session.

IMA welcomes Home Office policy change on pre-settled status retention for domestic abuse victims

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Actions for unlawful police detention and QOCS protection in mixed claims (ALK and another v The Chief Constable of Surrey Police)

PI & Clinical Negligence analysis: In an appeal heard by Mr Justice Bourne, the High Court held that the arrests of a married couple, both of whom were serving Metropolitan Police officers, by Surrey Police were unlawful. The court found that the arresting officers had not given appropriate consideration to voluntary attendance for interview as a less intrusive alternative under section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984) and Code G. The court stressed that the ‘necessity’ limb in PACE 1984, s 24 is an important constitutional safeguard, following a line of authority that stresses strict adherence to PACE 1984—an officer who gives no real consideration to alternatives runs the ‘plain risk’ of being found to have had no reasonable grounds to believe arrest was necessary. The court therefore allowed the liability appeal. This decision is an important reaffirmation of the strict operational limits on arrest powers. On costs, the court provided useful guidance as to the starting point in mixed personal injury claims, confirming that properly supported PI claims should attract QOCS protection. Bourne J concluded that the claimants’ pleaded and evidenced psychiatric injury claims meant the proceedings could properly be regarded as a personal injury action ‘in the round’ for QOCS purposes, and that the trial judge’s enforcement order permitting 70% of the defendant’s costs should not have been made, under the mixed-claim discretion in CPR 44.16. Written by Connor Wright, barrister, St Philips Chambers.

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