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8 August 2006: Diligent written questions from Tories Pickles, Spelman, Hendry and Heald have uncovered what has been going in Prescoworld. The Deputy Prime Minister is, it seems, on terrific form, despite his travails.

Number 10 gave us the impression that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister had been replaced with something called the Department of Communities and Local Government (see http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page9391.asp, if you really want to). But Presco responded by carrying out a ruthless programme of "official cleansing" in the territories under his rule.

Ruth Kelly, the supposed victor of the new arrangements, hasn't been allowed in to take possession of the glamorous 18th century offices used hitherto by her department. Presco has insisted she inhabit the Whitehall shanty-town down by Victoria Station (it is about as far from Whitehall as Dakar). Yvette Cooper has been cleansed along with 37 other civil servants - leaving their offices empty. The move is estimated to cost £40,231 (rather more than £1,000 a pop, note).

Presco's male supremacy is not just intact, but enhanced.

One little nibblet of fact: The Deputy Prime Minister was asked whether he uses an email account in the course of his duties. Answer: "No." Only too sensible, considering their usefulness to the court.