To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many ministerial announcements have not been made in the first instance to the House; and of those how many were (a) speeches to outside bodies, (b) press releases, (c) press briefings and (d) made by other means, since 1 May; and if he will make a statement about his Department's policy in respect of making public ministerial announcements. [18897]
[holding answer 3 December 1997]: Since 1 May, the number of ministerial announcements which were not made in the first instance to the House are as follows:
Speeches to
- outside bodies: 20
- press releases: 95
- press briefings: 8
- other means: 2.
These figures include the period covered by the summer recess. A large number of these announcements were minor, routine or advisory.
My Department will continue to follow the normal conventions, as set out in the Ministerial Code, in making ministerial announcements.