What are the main roles of the executive?

Question 1

Executive proposing legislation:

1) When are new programmes announced?
2) Where is it read out, and who?
3) What were some of the priorities of David Cameron’s government, which were highlighted in the Queen’s speech.

Answer 1

1) At the start of each parliamentary session, in the Queen’s speech.
2) It is read out to both Houses of Parliament, by the Queen.
3) > UK’s membership of the EU
> Decisions affecting England, or England and Wales, should only be taken with the consent of MPs from those parts of the UK.
> Legislation to protect essential public services from strikes.

Question 2

1) The executive doesn’t confine itself to the party manifesto, when else can it introduce legislation?

Answer 2

1) During emergencies, such as the threat of terrorism, and when having to amend existing legislation, that would bring the UK in line with international law (doctor’s mandate).

Question 3

1) Who will ministers consult before introducing legislation?
2) Give an example:
3) When was it introduced?

Answer 3

1) They will consult interested parties, such as pressure groups and professional bodies, before introducing legislation.
2) In 2015, Cameron’s government consulted employers on whether an apprenticeship levy, should be introduced. This would require large companies to pay for the training of new workers.
3) 2017

Question 4

Proposing the budget:

1) Who creates the budget?

Answer 4

1) The chancellor of the exchequer in consultation with the Prime Minister. It is revealed to the rest of the Cabinet shortly before it is delivered.

Question 5

1) What is the budget?

Answer 5

1) The government’s plans for changes to taxation and public spending.

Question 6

1) When is the budget presented to the House of Commons?

Answer 6

1) Used to be in March, but has been moved to November, since 2017.

Question 7

1) What happens if a new government comes to power?

2) What happened with George Osborne’s coalition, in 2010?

Answer 7

1) It introduces a budget of its own.
2) He was chancellor in the new coalition government, and had to deliver an ‘emergency budget’, only 90 days after the previous Labour government’s budget.

Question 8

1)