London: Britain`s civil service is quietly preparing for a hung Parliament, codifying in a single document the role of the Queen Elizabeth II in the event of no party winning an absolute majority in the General Elections scheduled this year.
Officials are in talks with the Queen`s advisers on what she could and could not do if no party command majority at Commons, ensuring there is no risk or uncertainty leading to a constitutional crisis over her powers to accept or refuse a request to dissolve Parliament, The Sunday Times reported.
The provisions are part of a "road map" to guide civil servants and politicians in a caretaker government, setting out precedents on forming coalitions and informal party pacts.
According to latest opinion polls ahead of election in May or June, the margin between opposition Conservatives and the ruling Labour has dwindled to 7 percent, with the former still holding an edge.
The narrowing gap between the main parties has increased the chances that none may win a majority, prompting the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice to take steps to ensure government could continue to function.
The monarch`s role, which has evolved over centuries and has never been fully set out in legislation, is fully understood by few except constitutional experts.
If her powers are exercised correctly, they would have the potential to unblock any post-election logjam. But if any mistakes are made, there could be indecision leading to panic the markets and have dire consequences for the economy.
Officials are understood to be studying precedents in Commonwealth countries where the Queen holds residual powers.
In Canada, there was a crisis after the 2008 election when the governor-general, acting on behalf of the Queen, granted a request from Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, to suspend Parliament.
The decision was controversial because Harper feared at the time that if Parliament continued to sit he could lose a confidence motion.
In Britain, the queen would usually be expected to stand back from talks by politicians to form a government.
She could, however, in theory refuse a request from a sitting prime minister to dissolve Parliament and call a snap second election if she thought another party leader might form
a viable coalition government.
"Ultimately the queen has a reserve power," said a source, adding, "At the moment it`s all based on convention. The palace wants it to be as clear as possible that it is for the politicians to sort out negotiations. Only when those negotiations are sorted out would she be brought in."
Professor Robert Hazell, director of the Constitution unit at University College London, said: "The rules are not clear and hard to find. It is very good news that the civil service is revising the rulebook."
A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: "As part of the preparations for a general election, it is normal practise for the civil service to consider all potential outcomes."
PTI
