Machinery of Government

The Machinery of Government Secretariat provides advice and support to the Clerk of the Privy Council and the Prime Minister on the structure and functioning of the government as a whole.

Much of this work involves supplying advice on the prerogative responsibilities of the Prime Minister, including:

• Ministerial mandates;
• The structure of Cabinet and its committees and their decision-making processes;
• The structure and organization of government portfolios;
• Guidance on the roles and accountability of senior public office holders.

How the Prime Minister carries out these responsibilities is generally determined by:

• Constitutional precedent and practice and the legal framework;
• The experience of previous governments;
• The working style and agenda of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Key Links

Current Ministry [ HTML ] [ PDF 80 KB ]

Cabinet Committee Mandates and Membership [ PDF 21 KB ]

Accountable Government - A Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State (2008) [ HTML ] [ PDF 624 KB]

Guidance for Deputy Ministers

Further Reading

The Role and Structure of the Privy Council Office (November 2008)

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