§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of mail received in the last 12 months for which figures are available from right hon. and hon. Members was replied to by him within,(a) up to 20 days, (b) 21 to 30 days, (c) 31 to 40 days and (d) over 40 days. [90149]
§ Mr. Byers[holding answer 12 July 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 11 June 1999, Official Report, columns 403–06, which sets out 158W departmental performance against the target set for answering correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members, in the 1998 calendar year.
The percentage of mail received in the last 12 months from right hon. and hon. Members which are replied to within the time scales specified could be provided only at disproportionate cost.