Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Thursday, 8 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 December 2005. It was answered by Anne McGuire (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 February 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Departmental Guidance (Evidency/Documentary Access)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to the (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) National Assembly for Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to the (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) National Assembly for Wales, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees.

Answer: Requests for the attendance of Ministers or officials to give evidence to the devolved legislatures will be considered on a case by case basis. This consideration will reflect: the principles set out in the Cabinet Office guidance Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees (July 2005); the policy outlined in the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Devolution Guidance Note 12 Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials at Committees of the devolved legislatures; and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. The principles underlying the provision of information to House of Commons Select Committees are set out in Departmental Evidence and response to Select Committees, particularly sections 4B and 4C.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 37412; 442 c596W;442 c596W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Access Civil servants Committees Department for Work and Pensions Evidence House of Commons Documents Government departments Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Ministers Scottish Parliament Select committees
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk