§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were(a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18890]
§ Mr. StrawSince 1 May, my Department has made 234 announcements by press release, including ones relating to public speeches. All major announcements are made to Parliament first when it is sitting. Such recent major announcements include a statement on Home Detention Orders, the White Paper on Youth Justice and the Bill to incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights into British Law. Press briefings are usually held to give further explanation to announcements, after they have been made public.