§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies. are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28494]
§ Mr. SoamesMinisters are accountable to Parliament for all matters concerning their agencies. Written parliamentary questions concerning matters which have been delegated to the chief executive of an executive agency in its framework document normally receive a reply from the Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Minister by letter. The chief executive's letter is published inHansard below the Minister's reply.