HC Deb 10 December 2001 vol 376 c626W
Annabelle Ewing

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of parliamentary questions replied to by the Lord Chancellor's Department were the subject of a holding answer in the last three Sessions of Parliament. [22022]

Ms Rosie Winterton

According to departmental records, the percentage of parliamentary questions replied to by the Lord Chancellor's Department which received a holding answer, during the parliamentary Sessions 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01, was 7.8 per cent. The figures for each parliamentary Session are provided in the table.

Percentage of named day PQs receiving a holding reply in the last three parliamentary Sessions
Session Number of PQs Number of named day PQs Number of holding replies Percentage
1998–991 925 159 51 5.5
1999–20002 837 206 74 8.8
2000–013 402 131 44 10.9
1 December 1998 to November 1999; sitting days 149
2 November 1999 to November 2000; sitting days 170
3 December 2000 to May 2001; sitting days 83