The powers necessary to carry out such administrative or regulatory functions are vested in the individual or board that heads the agency rather than in the Minister who reports to Parliament for the agency. Parliament requires that each agency report to it through a Minister, and where an agency draws on the Consolidated Revenue Fund the appropriate Minister sponsors the necessary request for funds through Estimates and the Crown underwrites those requests in the Appropriation Bill. Thus non-departmental officials, who generally enjoy a greater measure of independence than do departmental officials by virtue of holding appointments pursuant to Acts of Parliament that confer upon individuals or agencies certain specific duties and powers, should speak before Parliamentary committees only in relation to the exercise of those duties and powers. Even here the principles of responsible government require that every care be taken to avoid conflict on matters of policy where conflict would give rise to a lack of confidence within the Ministry and within Parliament concerning the capacity of an agencys head or board to administer its Act impartially. The relationship between the Government and Parliament expresses the fundamental principle of responsible government, namely that those who exercise constitutional authority must be part of and responsible to Parliament.
Officials are accountable to Ministers.
Thus the cornerstone of responsible government, as manifested in ministerial responsibility, ensures the supremacy of Parliament.