§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was, for each year since 1995, (1) the average response time for providing a substantive answer to(a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords; [7052]
(2) the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement. [7053]
1006W
§ Mr. LeslieThe prompt and efficient handling of correspondence and parliamentary questions is an issue to which I, arid ministerial colleagues, attach great importance.
General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published regularly. The most recent figures, for 2000, were published by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office, Marjorie Mowlam, in her answer to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Helens, North (Mr. Watts) on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W and in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Geraint Davies) on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W. On parliamentary questions, the information requested is not held in the form requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.