Because of his extensive experience as an editor who always insisted on clear plain English, Lord Lexden was asked in July by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to help ensure that his department handles the correspondence it receives effectively and provides replies of a good standard.
On August 7 Lord Lexden finalised his advice which will be incorporated in new internal guidance for the department’s officials.
Eric Pickles thanked Lord Lexden in a recent Written Ministerial Statement:
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP): Work of the Department during the Summer Recess
I would like to update Hon. Members on the main items of business undertaken by my Department since the House rose on 17 July 2012.
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Ministerial correspondence
I would like to put on the record my thanks to Lord Lexden for undertaking an informal review of departmental correspondence, providing advice on how we can improve the quality and style of Ministerial and Official replies to correspondence.