Dr. ThomasTo ask the Prime Minister what is the average length of time it has taken each Government Department respectively, to reply to Select Committee reports; what is the shortest time taken to respond; and what is the longest, since May 1979.
§ The Prime MinisterOn the basis of material readily available, the departmental estimates of information requested are as follows:
Time in days Department Average Shortest Longest Agriculture 94 77 120 Defence 98 23 323 Education 153 15 450 Employment 97 5 209 Energy 65 11 147 Environment 139 12 397 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including ODA) 87 11 272 Health and Social Security1 148 14 365 Home Office 140 26 365 Office of the Minister for the Civil Service 82 63 105 Scottish Office 128 33 392 Trade and Industry 78 14 224 Transport 155 31 351 Treasury 69 28 232 Welsh Office 156 36 360 1 Became two separate departments in July 1988.