Mark Oaten (Winchester, Liberal Democrat)

To ask the Leader of the House with reference to the written ministerial statement of 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 35WS, on I Will Write replies, whether the arrangements for publication in Hansard of I Will Write letters remain in force; and whether they apply to letters written by chief executives of Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies providing information in response to parliamentary questions.

Barbara Keeley (Parliamentary Secretary, House of Commons; Worsley, Labour)

On those occasions where an "I will write" answer is necessary, a copy of the subsequent substantive response will be sent to Hansard, to be printed with the written answers in the next edition.

The guidance on letters written by chief executives of Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies, in response to parliamentary questions, is outlined in the recently published 'Guide to Parliamentary Work:'

'Letters written by chief executives of Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies, in response to parliamentary questions, should be sent to the Official Report for printing, unless it contains personal or confidential information. If the letter is longer than the Official Report would normally publish notification will be printed that the response is available in the Library of the House.'

The hon. Member can view the full 'Guide to Parliamentary Work' through the Cabinet Office website at:

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide.aspx