§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which of his Department's Ministers had responsibility for his Department's inquiry into alleged accounting offences by Hollis Industries plc during the period from September to December 1998. [65592]
§ Mr. ByersOn 23 September 1998 my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson) decided, after a discussion with the Permanent Secretary, that neither he nor any other DTI Minister should be involved in these inquiries and that they should be handled by officials. Ministers remained accountable to Parliament for any actions or decisions taken by officials.