Exact account given by junior minister (8)
I believe the answer is:
accurate
'exact' is the definition.
(associated in meaning)
'account given by junior minister' is the wordplay.
'account' becomes 'ac' (abbreviation).
'given by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'junior minister' becomes 'curate'.
'ac'+'curate'='ACCURATE'
(Other definitions for accurate that I've seen before include "Precise and exact (8)" , "not deviating from the truth?" , "True!" , "Care a cut is exact" , "Absolutely correct" .)