HL Deb 04 November 1992 vol 539 c124WA
Lord Rippon of Hexham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What they regard as the responsibilities and obligations of Parliamentary Private Secretaries and whether they are bound by the doctrine of collective responsibility.

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Wakeham)

I refer my noble friend to Paragraphs 45 to 48 ofQuestions of Procedure for Ministers, published in May 1992, which he will find in the Library of the House.

Lord Rippon of Hexham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who is responsible for appointing and dismissing Parliamentary Private Secretaries.

Lord Wakeham

Questions of Procedure for Ministers, paragraph 46, says that Ministers choose and appoint their own Parliamentary Private Secretaries with the approval of the Prime Minister. The Chief Whip is also consulted.

Lord Rippon of Hexham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many Parliamentary Private Secretaries there are at present and what were the numbers in 1962, 1972 and 1982.

Lord Wakeham

There were 33 Parliamentary Private Secretaries in January 1980 and 42 in July 1992. Information on 1962 and 1972 is not held centrally.