Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their current practice not to show incoming Ministers the recent letters to their predecessors, in particular when these have not been sent replies; and whether they will review this matter.

The Government attaches great importance to the effective and timely handling of correspondence. It is current practice to show incoming Ministers letters when a response has not yet been issued.

Individual departments are responsible for maintaining their own performance records when new Ministers are appointed to the department.