HL Deb 15 January 2003 vol 643 cc49-50WA
Lord Jopling

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether he will instruct officials in the Cabinet Office to conduct an inquiry into the failure of the Northern Ireland Office to answer 29 Questions on the House of Lords Order Paper which have been unanswered for more than four weeks, when the official target for replies is within two weeks; and whether he will publish in the Official Report the reasons why the Questions which have been on the Order Paper for more than six weeks have not been answered. [HL982]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

I am pleased to inform the noble Lord that all 29 outstanding Questions have now been answered.

The suspension of devolved government in the Northern Ireland Assembly and transfer of powers to Westminster has added a considerable burden of work to the Northern Ireland Office.

I would like to assure the noble Lord that the Northern Ireland Office recognises the importance of prompt Answers and is taking steps to ensure that all Parliamentary Questions are answered accurately and promptly.