Questions for Written Answer

HL Deb 14 July 1997 vol 581 cc95-6WA

Lord Lucas

asked the Leader of the House:

In respect of each department of state since 15 May 1997, how many House of Lords Questions for Written Answer have received replies (a) within one week, (b) within two weeks but after one week, (c) within three weeks but after two weeks and (d)after three weeks.

The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Richard)

The figures for each department of state, up to and including 4 July 1997, are set out in the table below.

Department	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	17	16	3	0
Defence	2	13	11	0
Education and Employment	5	47	6	0
Environment, Transport and the Regions	64	7	0	0
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	4	46	4	0
Health	31	12	0	0
Home Office	14	40	1	0
International Development	5	2	0	0
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	2	0	0	0
Lord Advocate's Department	0	0	0	0
Lord Chancellor's Department	3	3	0	0
National Heritage	2	13	2	0
Northern Ireland Office	5	1	0	0
Office of Public Service	0	6	3	0
Privy Council Office	9	1	1	0
Scottish Office	2	6	0	0
Social Security	1	7	4	1
Trade and Industry	2	13	6	1
Treasury	2	13	3	2
Welsh Office	0	0	0	0

Lord Lucas asked

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Richard on 4 June (WA 39), whether they are now able to confirm that, if so requested by a Peer, they will send the personal copy of a reply to a Question for Written Answer to him by e-mail; and, if so, how such a request should be made.

Lord Richard

The great majority of government departments are in principle able to provide personal copies of Answers to Questions by e-mail, and willing to do so. However, a number of technical questions arise, and the House authorities and the government departments will need to satisfy themselves that these can be resolved. The Government look forward to testing this service once these steps have been taken.