§ Mr. Keith SimpsonTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the division of responsibilities between(a) the Minister for the Cabinet Office and (b) the Secretary to the Cabinet. [69492]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 8 February 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office assists me and Ministerial colleagues in the implementation and co-ordination of Government policy and its effective presentation. He is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's policies against drug misuse; for discharging, on a day-to-day basis, my responsibilities as Minister for the Civil Service; and for delivering the Modernising Government agenda. He oversees the work of the five Cabinet Office Agencies and the Central Office of Information. As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, he is responsible to Her Majesty the Queen for the general administration of the Duchy.
As under previous Governments, the Secretary of the Cabinet is principal official adviser to the Prime Minister, and supervises official support for the collective decision-making process. He is also Head of the Home Civil Service.