§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps she takes to ensure that replies to letters from hon. Members are given within a reasonable period of time; and which Departments have taken over nine months to reply to letters in the last three years. [153967]
§ Marjorie MowlamAll Departments are working hard to improve their handling of hon. Members' correspondence. For our part, the Cabinet Office has issued new guidance to Departments and is currently working hard on identifying and sharing examples of good practice in handling Members' correspondence.
The annual Cabinet Office report to Parliament provides information on the total number of late replies sent by Departments (i.e. the number of replies which are not sent within the target time set by Departments). We do not hold information centrally on late replies in any other format. The report for the 2000 calendar year is due to be published before Easter.