§ Dr. CableTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the directions overriding a note of dissent by an accounting officer that his Department has been notified of since January 2003; if he will place details of such directions in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [134224]
§ Ruth KellyI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Economic Secretary on 23 June 2003,Official Report, column 617W.
320WThe Treasury was informed of a direction by the Ministry of Defence on 30 July 2003 in respect of Hawk trainers.
The procedures relating to ministerial directions are set out in the "Accounting Officer Memorandum" and require Departments to convey relevant papers to the C&AG, copied to the Treasury, once an Accounting Office has received a direction from a Minister. It is for the C&AG to decide what action should be taken and whether he wishes to investigate further. Such documents may contain sensitive or classified material and it is for the Minister of the Department concerned to decide whether to make such directions more widely available.