I have difficulty with the way you've phrased it. I would certainly not give my consent that a minister can or has to know the identity in order to answer in public. I'm saying for reasons of state, and it could be national security, an issue of immigration, it could be a whole range of issues. Exceptionally, a minister also has a right to know for reasons of state. I'm saying very exceptionally he may ask the person to whom he has delegated this authority, on a very specific occasion, who is this? He has to know for a precise reason, and that would be one in ten thousand. It wouldn't be a regular occurrence.
On October 16th, 2006. See this statement in context.