HC Deb 20 June 1996 vol 279 cc518-23W
Mrs. Lait

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and agency chief executives from hon. members, the targets set for reply and the percentage of replies sent within target. [34211]

Mr. Willetts

The 1995 correspondence figures are set out in the table. The table also sets out the figures for 1994, first published on 18 April 1995,Official Report, columns 21–24. Hon. Members' attention is drawn to the footnotes which accompany the table and which provide general background information on how totals have been calculated. In particular, the entry for the Benefits Agency shows a fall in the number of letters received from 21,411 in 1994 to 2,689 in 1995. This reflects a change in the way the figures have been presented. The 1995 figure excludes 13,981 letters from Members of Parliament sent direct to district offices where local officials have replied.

Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives
Department/Agency Target set for reply (working days) 1994 Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) 1995 Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 15 9,429 80 15 8,533 68
Intervention Board 10 109 96 10 16 100
Cabinet Office (OPS) 15 941 71 15 1,526 76
Central Statistical Office1 10 70 67 102 42 67
Crown Prosecution Service 15 206 76 15 118 81
Customs and Excise 18 4,969 62 18 34,914 68
Ministry of Defence 15 7,769 69 15 7,109 75
Army Base Repair Organisation — — — 15 37 100
Defence Accounts Agency 10 51 90 10 63 93
Defence Animal Centre — — — 5 18 100
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency — — — 7 103 76
Defence Postal and Courier Service — — — 15 13 100
Disposal Sales Agency — — — 15 15 100
Duke of York's Royal Military School — — — 3 17 100
Department of Education 20 12,615 85 20 3,47,582 81
Department of Employment 15 6,821 82 15 43,227 90
Department for Education and Employment — — — 20 3,58,111 87
Employment Service 15 1,156 85 15 1,306 97
Teachers' Pensions Agency 10 70 97 10 95 100
Department of the Environment 15 17,767 57 15 18,138 652
Planning Inspectorate Agency 8 604 80 8 7593 89
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 10 11,178 89 10 7,364 90
Department of Health 20 16,311 84 20 16,121 79
Medicines Control Agency — — — 10 11 100
NHS Pensions Agency 8 93 100 20 81 84
Her Majesty's Stationery Office 5 11 91 5 13 100
Home Office 15 14,830 20 815 11,556 26
25 12,845 51 825 12,327 51
Her Majesty's Prison Service 15 1,569 73 15 2,564 76
UK Passport Agency 15 172 95 15 101 86
Inland Revenue 18 5,063 50 18 3,9746 47
23 1,048 60 23 3,1036 49
Valuation Office — — — 1123 3,12221 48
15 23 78 1315 31 51
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 549 76 15 14359 75
Lord Chancellor's Department 20 5,166 83 20 4,641 81
Court Service15 — — — 20 985 46
Her Majesty's Land Registry 20 31 90 20 63 100
Public Trust Office 15 36 75 15 45 98
Department of National Heritage 18 3,490 83 18 3,834 95
Historic Royal Palaces Agency — — — 10 16 100
Royal Parks Agency 18 15 80 10 20 80
Northern Ireland Office 10 3,468 65 1610 34,237 64
(including Northern Ireland Departments) 15 1,924 75 1715 31,857 80
Child Support Agency (NI) 10 48 88 10 73 74
Compensation Agency (NI) 7 102 94 10 94 99
Northern Ireland Prison Service — — — 10 54 83
Social Security Agency (NI) 10 28 93 10 41 63
Overseas Development Administration 15 3,962 93 15 3,941 96
The Scottish Office 17 5,562 49 17 5,874 49
Historic Scotland 17 13 92 17 39 95
Scottish Office Pensions Agency — — — 17 11 100
Scottish Prison Service 17 68 76 17 81 84
Student Awards Agency for Scotland — — — 17 61 95
Department of Social Security 20 23,193 64 20 1819,645 71
Benefits Agency 20 21,411 93 20 192,689 89
Child Support Agency 20 9,092 25 20 205,554 63
Contributions Agency 20 299 67 20 21304 48
War Pensions Agency 20 522 99 20 1,117 100
Department of Trade and Industry 10 23,171 74 10 318,505 72
Companies House 10 79 66 10 44 85
Insolvency Service 10 33 88 10 29 100
Patent Office — — — 10 17 100
Radiocommunications Agency 10 38 100 10 38 100
Department of Transport 15 20,905 72 15 19,427 65
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 10 357 95 7 402 99
Driving Standards Agency 10 87 87 15 122 94
Highways Agency 15 422 47 15 665 84
Marine Safety Agency 15 21 100 15 18 100
Transport Research Laboratory 15 10 90 15 11 100
Vehicle Inspectorate 15 17 100 15 42 98
Her Majesty's Treasury 15 4,728 54 15 37,761 62

Correspondence from Members of Parliament to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives
Department/Agency Target set for reply (working days) 1994 Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) 1995 Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target
Welsh Office 12 3,062 73 12 2,987 82
CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments 12 47 93 12 46 93
Total number of letters 257,676 222,797
Average percentage of replies within target — — 78 — — 82
1On the 1 April 1996 the Central Statistical Office merged with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys to form the Office for National Statistics.
2Represents target set for CSO to submit replies to HM Treasury.
3Includes all ministerial replies, not only those letters to Members of Parliament.
4The Department for Education and the Department of Employment merged on the 6 July 1995. Figures given are for the period from 6 July to 31 December.
5 The Department for Education and Employment was established on 6 July 1995. Figures given are for the period from 6 July to 31 December.
672 per cent, of letters were replied to within 20 working days.
7Figure includes letters received direct from Members of Parliament as well as via Ministers' offices. Figure also includes 26 cases which relate to Wales.
8Until April 1995 targets within the Home Office were expressed in calendar days and, because of bank holidays, performance was occasionally measured against fewer than the 15 or 25 working day target. The 25 day target is for replies in respect of subjects dealt with by the Immigration and Nationality Department, Prison Service and UK Passport Agency, and includes letters sent direct to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate Board. The 15 day target is for all other subjects.
9Head Office figures.
10Local Office figures. In addition, the Inland Revenue processed 471 'delegated cases', where local officials replied direct to MPs. Of these 78 per cent, were replied to within the 23 day target.
11Letters from MPs where the Chief Executive has replied on behalf of the Treasury Ministers.
12Excludes 94 letters relating to caravans, where the Agency conducted lengthy negotiations with the Industry. MPs were made aware that the constituency correspondence had been held in abeyance pending the outcome of negotiations.
13Letters from MPs sent direct to the Chief Executive.
14This figure excludes letters received by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers which were subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
15The Court Service became an executive agency on 3 April 1995. Figures given are for all correspondence replied to by the Chief Executive between that date and the 31 December.
16Replies signed by the Minister.
17Replies signed by the Private Secretary to the Minister.
18Excludes letters replied to by the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency on behalf of Ministers.
19In addition, the Benefits Agency replied to 13,981 letters from MPs sent direct to district offices, of which 95 per cent, were replied to within the 20 day target.
20Includes letters from MPs to Ministers where the Chief Executive has signed on Ministers' behalf.
21In addition, the Contributions Agency replied to 158 letters from MPs sent direct to district offices, of which 96 per cent, were replied to within the 20 day target.
22The 1994 figures are taken from the Official Report, 18 April 1995, columns 21–24. Please also refer to notes given with that reply. In addition the following Departments and Agencies received between 1 and 10 letters from Members of Parliament during 1995 but are not shown in the table.

Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, Central Science Laboratory, Meat Hygiene Service, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (MAFF).

Civil Service College, Occupation Health and Safety Agency (OPS).

Army Technical Support Agency, Defence Analytical Services Agency, Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency, Meterological Office, Military Survey, Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, Naval Recruitment and Training Agency, Queen Victoria School and the RAF Training Group (MOD).

The Building Research Establishment Agency, the Buying Agency and Securities Facilities Executive (DOE).

Export Credit Guarantee Department.

Wilton Park (FCO).

Medical Devices Agency (Health).

Fire Service College (Home Office).

Government Property Lawyers Agency (Attorney General).

Public Record Office (LCD).

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (NI), Driver and Vehicle Testing (NI), Rate Collection Agency, Training and Employment Agency (NI) and the Valuation and Lands Agency (Northern Ireland).

Scottish Records Office (Scottish Office).

IT Services Agency and Resettlement Agency (DSS).

Laboratory of the Government Chemist and the National Physical Laboratory (DTI).

Coastguard Agency and the Vehicle Certification Agency (DOT).