HC Deb 18 July 2002 vol 389 c456W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what occasions since 7 June 2001 he has asked the chief executives of the(a) Highways Agency, (b) DVLA, (c) DSA, (d) Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (e) Vehicle Certification Agency and (f) Vehicle Inspectorate to write to an hon. Member in response to a parliamentary question; under what guidance such decisions are made; and if he will make a statement. [70645]

Mr. Jamieson

Where a written parliamentary question is about a matter assigned to an agency under the terms of its Framework Document, the responsible Minister normally asks the chief executive to provide the substantive reply to the hon. Member. This has been the practice for many years. Since 7 June 2001, about 90 parliamentary questions (less than 1 per cent. of the total) have been answered by a chief executive letter. The letters are published in theOfficial Report, in accordance with the guidance issued by the Cabinet Office in 1994.

Mrs. May

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Maidenhead of 1 July 2002, concerning park and ride schemes and 2 July 2002, concerning Network Rail. [71492]

Mr. Jamieson

The question concerning park and ride schemes was answered on 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 142W and the question concerning Network Rail on 17 July 2002, Official Report, column 327W.