§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Solicitor-General how many staff have been employed in the Ministerial Correspondence Unit of the Department in each of the last two years. [115869]
§ The Solicitor-GeneralA holding reply was given on 3 June 2003.
My own Department, the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers, the Serious Fraud Office, the Treasury Solicitor's Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate do not have dedicated Ministerial Correspondence Units due to the small size of the offices. Ministerial Correspondence is delegated for preparation of a response to the most appropriate person depending on the subject matter.
The Crown Prosecution Service's Correspondence Unit deals with all Ministerial Correspondence sent to the Director, Chief Executive and the Law Officers, general correspondence from members of the public, the Public Enquiry Point and, in accordance with the third tier of the Crown Prosecution Service's Complaints Procedure, looks into all matters in which complainants remain dissatisfied with the responses received from branch and area level.
In 2001–02, four staff were assigned to the Correspondence Unit (one Higher Executive Officer, two Executive Officers and one Administrative Officer). In the following year the number rose to five when a further part-time Higher Executive Officer joined the Unit and was given specific responsibility for third tier
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Event Place Purpose Date Cost National Senior Management Conference The Royal York Hotel, York To update all senior managers on progress against current plans and involve them in the development of future strategy and plans April 2002 £46,150 National Senior Management Conference Russell Hotel, London To update all senior managers on progress against current plans and involve them in the development of future strategy and plans July 2002 £18,760 National Senior Management Conference De Vere Garden Park, Chester To update all senior managers on progress against current plans and involve them in the development of future strategy and plans October 2002 £47,242 National Senior Management Conference Russell Hotel London To update all senior managers on progress against current plans and involve them in the development of future strategy and plans January 2003 £32,857 Conference of the UK Browns Court Room, Covent To provide a forum for representatives of UK September 2002 £3,000 complaints. The Correspondence Unit forms part of the Director's Private Office and the staff report to the Director's Private Secretary.