§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the division of responsibilities and relationship between his departmental Ministers and agencies.
§ Miss WiddecombeMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament for the Employment Service. The chief executive of the ES has full authority to manage the agency and its day-to-day work. He is accountable to the Secretary of State for managing the agency efficiently and effectively, and for its operations and its performance against agreed targets within the resources allocated, in accordance with the agency's objectives and published standards of service. Full details of the division of responsibilities are set out in the ES framework document, a copy of which is available in the Library.