Thursday 18 October 2007

Written Ministerial Statement

Corrections to the Official Report and publication of NDPB letters in Hansard

Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal (Ms Harriet Harman): The House agreed to the 2nd Report from the Procedure Committee Corrections to the Official Report (HC541) on 19 June 2007.  The Committee, following representations from my predecessor (Rt Hon Jack Straw MP), proposed a new scheme involving a separate section of Hansard for printed corrections.    I am today issuing guidance to Departments as to how it will work. A copy has been deposited in the Library of the House and is also available on the Leader's Office website www.commonsleader.gov.uk.

The procedure will provide greater consistency and improve transparency in this area for Members of the House and the public.

Following further advice from the Procedure Committee, it has been agreed that, where the Minister takes responsibility for the reply, it is acceptable for letters from the heads of NDPBs in response to Parliamentary Questions to be published in Hansard, in an arrangement similar to the publication of letters from Chief Executives of Agencies.

Both these processes will begin in November 2007.