HC Deb 17 April 1996 vol 275 cc493-4W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those areas of Executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20535]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 26 March 1996]: Records are not kept in the form requested, but in the vast majority of cases where the Secretary of State is empowered to take a decision in respect of an individual, there is no express provision which either requires him to give reasons or which provides that he should not do so.