HC Deb 13 May 2004 vol 421 c568W
David Davis

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of(a) Written Answers, (b) replies to hon. Members' written correspondence and (c) public correspondence with his Department was (i) seen and (ii) cleared by special advisers before being published in 2003–04. [170530]

Mr. Blunkett

Special Advisers in this Department have access to material produced by permanent civil servants in accordance with paragraph 14e of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". Ministers approve answers to all Parliamentary Questions and replies to hon. Members' written correspondence. They also approve replies to public correspondence except that dealt with directly by permanent civil servants.