§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Lord President of the Council whether(a) the Cabinet Office, (b) the Cabinet Secretary or (c) the Prime Minister have ever issued guidance to departmental Ministers as to Government policy on the extent of detail given in ministerial replies to parliamentary questions.
§ Mr. WakehamNo such guidance has been issuedto Ministers by (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) the Cabinet Secretary or (c) the Prime Minister. The extent of detail given in replies to parliamentary questions is a matter left to the judgment of individual departmental Ministers subject to parliamentary conventions and considerations such as cost.