§ Norman BakerTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria are applied, and by whom, when a decision is taken that duplicate Parliamentary Questions tabled to different departments should be responded to by means of one composite reply; what mechanism exists for identifying such questions; and if he will make a statement. [162308]
§ Mr. AlexanderDepartments prepare answers to Parliamentary Questions in accordance with the Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions, re-issued by the Cabinet Office in September 2002. Departments liaise with each other from time to time where Parliamentary Questions cut across departmental boundaries. It is for individual Ministers to decide on the contents of answers to Parliamentary Questions.