§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many times in each month of the current year he has met personally the heads of the agencies which report to him to discuss the work of those agencies. [39862]
§ Mr. BurtMy right hon. Friend has a regular monthly meeting with the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, who also attends a limited number of meetings to discuss particular concerns. He meets chief executives of other agencies within the Department as necessary when particular issues arise. The chief executive of the Child Support Agency has regular meetings with my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Mr. Mitchell), as does the chief executive of the Contributions Agency with my hon.1016W Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, North (Mr. Heald). Other chief executives meet Ministers relatively infrequently. Much of the contact between Ministers and chief executives is in writing.