To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance she produces for other Government Departments on answering a similar or identical question tabled to each Government Department; what criteria she uses in selecting the questions to provide guidance on; and if she will make a statement. (83428)

The Government made clear in their response to the Third Report of Session 2003-04 from the Public Administration Select Committee, that while Government Departments may liaise with each other when they receive the same question, this co-ordination

“does not cut across the line of ministerial accountability which is that it is for individual Ministers to decide on the final content of an answer to a parliamentary question”.¹

¹ Page 3, HC 1262, Ministerial Accountability and Parliamentary Questions: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report—First Special Report of Session 2003-04