Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Monday, 7 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. It was answered by Andy Slaughter (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 on behalf of the Attorney General.

Ministerial Duties

Question: To ask the Attorney General, what advice have the Law Officers given on the personal legal liability of a Secretary of State for actions of their department; and what legal indemnifications are in place for Ministers.

Answer

The Law Officers’ Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to your question.

The Law Officers’ Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:

“By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph [5.14] of the Ministerial Code [updated on 13 October 2025]. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence.”

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 27463
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Ministerial duties
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Ministerial Duties

Secondary information

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