§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment at what stage(a) drafts and (b) copies of letters from chief executives of agencies within his responsibility, in response to parliamentary questions, are submitted to Ministers.
§ Mr. HowardChief executives of agencies within my responsibility reply direct to parliamentary questions on matters for which they have delegated operational responsibility. Normally such replies are not seen in draft by me or my ministerial colleagues, but we see copies after they have been sent by the chief executives.