§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly to him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28492]
§ Mr. DorrellMinisters 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 177W reply from a Minister to the effect that he or she has asked the chief executive to reply direct to the Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published in Hansard below the Minister's reply.