§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the criteria for selecting those matters within his responsibility and the responsibility of the next steps agencies which are deemed to be operational matters.
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§ Miss WiddecombeThe responsibilities of chief executives of DSS agencies on operational matters are set out in the framework document for each agency, copies of which are available in the Library. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State wrote to all right hon. and hon. Members about the new arrangements we were introducing for Members' correspondence and written parliamentary questions about the operational activities of DSS agencies. The arrangements are designed to provide a better service to Members. Ministers remain fully accountable for the work of the Department including its executive agencies.