9 Octoober 2006

Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Leader of the House, which Government departments answer parliamentary questions by means of (a) centralised answering and (b) officials involved in policy formation.

Jack Straw:

All Departments have central units for the administrative coordination and processing of answers. Officials responsible for the issue concerned will be involved in the preparation of the answer, under the arrangements made within that Department.
Ministers are responsible for the answers given. I refer the Hon Member to the Answer I gave to the Hon Member for St Albans on 25 July, Official Report col. 1641W.