The publication gave little away about the sunset months of the reign of Andrew Lansley and colleagues at the Department of Health.

However, the details did give yet further confirmation of Earl “Freddie” Howe’s place among Whitehall’s most personable – and perhaps demonstrate why he was the only health minister kept on in the September reshuffle.

Earl Howe, having seen the Health Act to eventual approval and Royal Assent in April, recorded 18 official engagements between July and September.

That included a charm offensive flurry of eight meetings with wounded friends and enemies in July, described as “continued engagement with key stakeholders following Health and Social Care Act”.

Earl Howe’s closest competition was from Paul Burstow who notched up just ten engagements.