§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minster to what extent(a) he and (b) his office has a role in the co-ordination of answers from Ministers to parliamentary questions tabled by hon. and right hon. Members. [23778]
The Deputy Prime MinisterAs Chairman of the Ministerial Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy, I have in place procedures for co-ordinating the handling of linked parliamentary questions put to a number of departmental Ministers and parliamentary questions put to one Government Department where the subject matter is of wider interest to the Government as a whole. In each case, it is for the departmental Minister to take responsibility for the answer. The co-ordinating procedures are designed to secure consistency and efficient handling of those questions which extend beyond the field of responsibility of individual departmental Ministers.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is his role in the framing of answers to parliamentary questions to other Government Departments. [23719]
The Deputy Prime MinisterMy role is confined to those cases where the subject matter of a question put to another Government Department cuts across the responsibilities of several Departments including my own, or has been brought to the attention of the Ministerial Committee on the Co-ordination and Presentation of Government Policy, which I chair, as a matter of wider interest to Government as a whole. In such cases, the lead Department would liaise with the Committee, and with other interested Departments, over the terms of the answer. In each case, it is the departmental Minister who has responsibility for the final answer.