Written question asked by Tony Wright (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 9 January 1996. It was answered by John Wheeler (Conservative) on Tuesday, 9 January 1996 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Northern Ireland Office

Question: If Answers sent to honourable Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are (a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994-95.

Answer: Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if answers sent to hon. Members in reply to parliamentary questions by the head of executive agencies in his Department are (a) seen, (b) approved and (c) amended by him before they are sent; and if he will identify such letters to which amendments by him have been made in 1994-95. [7822] Sir John Wheeler: As responsibility to answer parliamentary questions on operational matters has been delegated to the chief executives of executive agencies, such answers provided by chief executives are not approved or amended by Ministers before being sent to hon. Members. The questions and answers are copied to Ministers, for information, usually before the reply appears in Hansard.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 7822; 269 c106-7W
Session: 1995-96
Subjects: Executive agencies House of Commons Government departments Parliamentary questions Written questions Northern Ireland Office