§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many officials in his Department are currently involved in drafting replies to letters for Ministers in his Department to sign.
§ Mr. HagueThe ministerial correspondence section, which allocates correspondence and ensures accuracy of drafts, comprises 15 staff.
It is part of the responsibility of most executive grade officers in the Department to produce draft replies to correspondence on issues within their area of responsibility. It is therefore impossible to quantify the number involved in producing drafts.