§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the oral statement of 25 March 2002,Official Report, column 586, what the number and/or column reference was of the written parliamentary question from the week of 18 to 24 March, to which the then Secretary of State refers to with regard to letters of comfort. [62294]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 17 June 2002]: My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, was referring to the draft comfort letters for the London Underground that were reported to Parliament using the minute procedure on 20 March 2002. The minute was placed in the Libraries of the House and reported to the Transport Select Committee and to the Public Accounts Committee.
§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of his guidance for officials on answering parliamentary questions. [62575]
§ Mr. DarlingAnswers to parliamentary questions are drafted in accordance with "Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions" issued by 667W the Cabinet Office. In addition, guidance is issued to officials within the Department on deadlines and format for the different types of parliamentary questions. A copy of that guidance (which will be updated to reflect the recent machinery of government changes) has been placed in the Library of the House.