§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times in the last 10 years, and on which dates, his departmental accounting officer has issued a minute in that role; and what was the issue in each case. [22563]
§ Sir John WheelerWhere a Minister overrules an accounting officer's advice on an issue or propriety or regularity or one of value for money the accounting officer should request a written instruction from the Minister to take the action in question.
No such instructions have been issued in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments in the last 10 years.