§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many written parliamentary questions were tabled for answer by his Department in each of the past five years; and how many of these were not answered because the information(a) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, (b) was not held centrally and (c) was not normally disclosed; how many of these could now be answered due to computerisation, more effective and efficient operational systems or more open government; and if he will list each question along with the name and constituency of the right hon. or hon. Member who originally tabled it. [28511]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of parliamentary questions, which would have been answered directly by 211W him or his Ministers prior to the establishment of executive agencies, are now referred to the chief executive of such an agency. [28491]
§ Miss WiddecombeMinisters 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 to the hon. Member by letter. The chief executive's letter is published inHansard below the Minister's reply.