§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the heads of executive agencies in his Department are(a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95. [7834]
§ Mr. HoramParliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister may see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene 231W in operational matters. The available information shows that no letters have been amended by Ministers of the Department, but no formal record is kept.