PARLIAMENTARY PRIVATE SECRETARY

A 'Parliamentary Private Secretary' (PPS) is a junior role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament (MP). In this role, the MP acts as the Parliamentary contact for a senior minister, shadow minister, or sometimes a group of ministers. This is an unpaid^[1] position.

Contents

Powers of a PPS

Views on the role of PPSs

References

External links

Powers of a PPS

PPSs help the government to track backbench opinion; they can sit on Select Committees but must avoid "associating themselves with recommendations critical of, or embarrassing to the Government.", and must not make statements or ask questions on matters affecting their minister's department.^[2] They are subject to the following restrictions as outlined in the Ministerial Code of the British government:
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★ According to Article 2.7 of the ministerial code PPS are not members of the government and all efforts are made to avoid these positions being referred to as such. They are instead considered more simply as Private Members, however their close confidence with ministers does impose obligations on every PPS. The guidelines surrounding the divulging of information to PPSs are rigid
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★ Ministers will choose their own PPS but must seek the written approval for their candidate from the Prime Minister. It is also traditional procedure to consult the Chief Whip when selecting a PPS. (Article 2.8)
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★ The government expects PPSs to follow voting in such a way that if a PPS were to vote in opposition of policies backed by the government, that member would be automatically relieved from their role as a PPS. In accordance with this they must not appear as a representative for any special policies. (Article 2.9)
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★ PPSs are entitled to the same civil service travel and subsistence allowances, while on official/Departmental business, as any other MPs. This makes the PPS the only type of unpaid advisor who receives reimbursement in the course of their duty. (Article 2.10)
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★ As a last resort for ministers who must pull out of an event for whatever reason, a PPS may stand in for the minister at the event. This will only happen in exceptional circumstances and must be justified by the minister in charge of the department. If this event is overseas it again requires the Prime Minister's consent. (Article 2.10)
Other restrictions not in the Ministerial Code also apply:
Parliamentary Private Secretaries to Ministers (planning and non-planning) in Communities and Local Government are not allowed to be involved with making planning decisions or in the consideration of planning cases.^[1]
The seniority of a PPS is linked to the seniority of the minister in question. Although PPSs are unpaid and do not hold public office, they are regarded as being part of the payroll vote and are expected to be as loyal as ministers.
Although not part of the cabinet, they are officially regarded as members of the government for purposes of collective responsibility, together with junior ministers.

Views on the role of PPSs

After the leaking of party details in emails associated with Desmond Swayne, PPS to David Cameron, a writer of the Thirsk and Malton Labour Party Constituency Blog commented:
::"A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a thankless job. Despite having risen to the rank of MP, those with Governmental ambitions will need to pay their dues oncemore - as a bag carrier. Admittedly, PPS is a bit more than that - you are supposed to be the eyes and ears, reporting back to your boss all the gossip, what people are saying about your work in the bars and cafes of Westminster"^[1]
The use of PPSs has in the past been a source of comedy as seen in the series, ''Yes Minister'':
::"'James Hacker': Who else is in this department?
::'Sir Humphrey Appleby': Well briefly, Sir, I am the Permanent Under Secretary of State, known as the Permanent Secretary. Woolley here is your Principal Private Secretary, I too have a Principal Private Secretary and he is the Principal Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary. Directly responsible to me are ten Deputy Secretaries, 87 Under Secretaries and 219 Assistant Secretaries. Directly responsible to the Principal Private Secretary are plain Private Secretaries, and the Prime Minister will be appointing two Parliamentary Under Secretaries and you will be appointing your own Parliamentary Private Secretary.
::'James Hacker': Do they all type?
::'Sir Humphrey Appleby': No. Mrs. McKay types. She's the secretary."^[1]
The role is seen as a starting point for many MPs who are looking to become ministers themselves.^[1] In 1963, Professor of Political Science Philip W. Buck at Stanford University published a journal article stating:
::"Nine-tenths of the M.P.'s who first won seats in the House of Commons in 1918 or thereafter, and who held some ministerial office in the years from 1918 to 1955, began their progress towards posts in a ministry or a Cabinet by serving as parliamentary secretaries or as junior ministers... Recruitment to the front bench clearly begins with these two offices."^[1]

References

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2. Ministerial Code, section 3.9
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External links

★ BBC, A-Z of Politics

★ TheyWorkForYou, List of MPs and the posts that they hold

★ Ministerial code related to PPS's