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PM gives away prerogative powers
Gordon Brown has announced a range of powers he is to transfer from the executive to Parliament.
Delivering his first statement to MPs as prime minister, he set out plans to boost the role of the Commons in holding the government to account.
In a bid to stress the importance of Parliament, he confirmed he is to give up some of his royal prerogative powers, such as the ability to send troops to war without a vote in the Commons, recall the House from recess and call a general election.
There will also be scrutiny of senior appointments to positions such as judges and bishops, the governor of the Bank of England and chairman of the Financial Services Authority.
Brown said what he was announcing was "not and should not be seen as a final blueprint for a constitutional settlement but a route map towards it".
However he added that he could propose immediate changes to his own powers in 12 areas.
These were in areas including the ability to declare war, request the dissolution of Parliament, recall Parliament from recess in an emergency, ratify international treaties, make key public appointments without scrutiny, reform the civil service and grant passports and pardons.
"While constitutional change should never limit our ability to deal with emergencies and should never jeopardise the security of our forces or any necessary operational decisions, the government will consult on a resolution to guarantee that on the grave issue of peace and war it is ultimately this House of Commons that will make the decision," he said.
"I propose, in addition, to put onto a statutory footing Parliament's right to ratify new international treaties.
"We will also consult on proposals that this House of Commons would have to approve a resolution for any dissolution of Parliament requested by the prime minister - and that, while at present members of Parliament cannot decide whether the House should be recalled, for the first time a majority of members - and not just the prime minister - should have that right, subject to your authority Mr Speaker."
Security
Brown also said he wanted to improve parliamentary oversight of intelligence, with a consultation on whether and how the intelligence and security committee can be appointed by and report to MPs rather than Number 10.
The government will regularly publish a "national security strategy" which will be debated in Parliament, with a new national security council within Whitehall accountable to MPs.
A further consultation on the powers of the attorney general was also launched, with Brown announcing that attorney Baroness Scotland has agreed not to make any key prosecution decisions in the interim, unless the law requires it.
Other changes proposed included a new ministerial code including an adviser to the prime minister on disclosure of interests and conduct, a summer pre-Queen's speech statement on the draft legislative programme for the following year, and a question time for regional ministers.
Brown said Labour would "fulfil our manifesto commitment" on a review of electoral systems.
But he said he did "not accept the proposal for English votes for English laws which would create two classes of members of Parliament".
He also announced consultations on weekend voting and more rights for parties to use all-women shortlists in a bid to improve turnout at elections and female representation in the Commons.
The prime minister said the plans were an "important step forward in changing the way we are governed".
"The changes we propose today and the national debate we now begin are founded upon the conviction that the best answer to disengagement from our democracy is to strengthen our democracy," he concluded.
"It is my hope that this dialogue of all parties and the British people will lead to a new consensus, a more effective democracy and a stronger sense of shared national purpose."
Earlier the cabinet met on Tuesday morning and held its third debate on the package in less than a week, alongside a discussion of the government's draft legislative programme for the next year.
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