Administrative law seeks to control the exercise of the governmental powers conferred on ministers, tribunals, statutory bodies and others.

In a manner that would have astonished lawyers practising 30 years ago, the courts have granted injunctions to restrain ministers from enforcing an Act of Parliament (because of a conflict with European Union law); judicial review has been extended to prerogative functions (such as the grant of a pardon) and to bodies (such as the City Takeover Panel) which have no statutory responsibilities; and remedies are granted for errors of law (whether or not within the jurisdiction), some errors of fact, and breaches of legitimate expectations.For several years, administrative law has ceased to be a branch of welfare law, providing remedies of last resort (usually ineffectual) for the poor, the homeless, and immigrants.

Administr ative law has become a powerful weapon for fighting abuse of power and unfairness by government.

It has become a weapon used by all those who consider themselves to be victims, from prisoners seeking to communicate with their solicitors to public companies aggrieved by the conduct of a regulatory authority.As the judiciary attempts to comprehend and to implement the principles it has asserted by way of judicial review, three central issues need to be resolved.

How do we define a governmental body for the purposes of administrative law? Does a governmental body have to comply with the principles of administrative law in relation to commercial decisions? And do governmental bodies have a duty to give reasons for their decisions?