§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his oral answer of 28 April 2003,Official Report, column 10, on terrorism, for what reasons his Department's Press Office told journalists in April that Lord Falconer had not taken over from the right hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) the responsibility for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear co-ordination within his Department. [110798]
§ Mr. BlunkettThere is no record of my Department's Press Office telling any journalist that my noble Friend Lord Falconer had not taken over from my right hon. Friend for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) the responsibility for CBRN co-ordination within the Home Office.
Had the Home Office Press Office been asked the question posed by the hon. Member on Monday, they would have replied that I have oversight of all issues related to terrorism and security, including CBRN, and that Lord Falconer has responsibility for CBRN coordination working directly to me.