§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average time taken to reply to correspondence in the Inland Revenue; what proportion of correspondence is neither replied to nor acknowledged within three months of receipt; and how these figures compare with the position 12 months ago.
§ Mr. RidleyInformation is not available to answer the question as put, but arrears of correspondence are recorded and closely monitored. Tax districts, which account for the greatest proportion of Inland Revenue correspondence with the public, deal with over 100 million items of correspondence a year, including inter-office post. At 13 November 1981 some 203,000 items had been on hand in tax districts for over 14 days, compared with 364,000 12 months previously. Arrears on hand for over two months are reported quarterly and the last available figures were 13,366 items at 9 October 1981, compared with 26,650 12 months previously.
Communications from the public should normally be acknowledged where it is likely that the matter cannot be dealt with within 10 days, rather longer when part of a continuing correspondence.