§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are(a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994–95. [7836]
§ Mr. Douglas HoggParliamentary questions are passed to the head of an executive agency for reply when the matter is one delegated to him or her under the agency framework document. The relevant Minister may see a copy of the reply before it is sent, but would not normally intervene in operational matters. As far as I am aware, no replies have been changed by Ministers in this Department in the period in question.