§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many officials he employed(a) full time and (b) part time in his Department in each of the last three years to answer letters sent to him from hon. Members; and what was the estimated overall cost of replying to them in each of the last three years. [5617]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordOfficials in my Department provide Ministers with draft replies to departmental correspondence as part of their normal duties. No information is available on what proportion of officials' time is spent on this work.