To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007, Official Report, column 475W, on Defence Export Services Organisation, whether Lord Drayson’s opinion was (a) sought and (b) given before the Prime Minister took the decision to transfer the Defence Export Services Organisation’s responsibilities to UK Trade and Investment. (167777)

[holding answer 26 November 2007]: It is not our practice to comment on exchanges of views between Ministers that take place in the normal course of formulating, and reaching decisions on, Government policy.