§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with theWestern Mail as regards the form of publication of letters from Ministers and civil servants on behalf of Ministers and signed as approved by the relevant Minister; what proposals he has to clarify the distinction between the responsibility of Ministers for instructing and approving letters and civil servants for drafting and dispatching letters; and if he will make a statement. [5419]
§ Mr. HagueIt is standard practice across Whitehall for letters dictated by or approved by a Minister to be signed by a civil servant on behalf of the Minister in his absence. This is always made clear on the letter and is used to avoid delays in transmission. This happened with the letter from my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, Member for Clwyd North-West (Mr. Richards) printed in theWestern Mail on 4 December. The newspaper incorrectly carried the name of the civil servant rather than that of my hon. Friend whose letter it was. When the error was pointed out by an official the Western Mail carried a correction the following day.
It is also standard practice for officials to provide advice to Ministers on matters of official business, including letters.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the original letter, relating to the health service in Wales, published in theWestern Mail on 4 December in the name of the Welsh Office civil servant Richard Morgan. [5255]