HC Deb 16 July 1997 vol 298 c182W
Dr. Whitehead

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many next steps executive agencies have regional administrative structures; and, of these, how many have boundaries that coincide with those of the Government Offices for the Regions; and if he will make a statement. [8437]

Mr. Kilfoyle

There are 37 executive agencies that have regional administrative structures. Of these, three have boundaries that coincide with the Government Offices for the Regions. They are Social Security Benefits Agency, Social Security Child Support Agency and Social Security Contributions Agency.

Dr. Whitehead

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what procedures exist concerning the accountability of next steps executive agencies to Ministers for the process of determining the content of next steps agency framework document; and if he will make a statement. [8349]

Mr. Kilfoyle

It is the responsibility of the departmental Minister to set the framework within which the department's executive agencies are to operate and therefore to determine which matters are to be assigned to a Chief Executive under the terms of an Agency's framework document.