HC Deb 26 April 2002 vol 384 cc491-2W
Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she determines whether a letter from(a) a member of the public and (b) an hon. Member receives a reply personally signed by (i) her, (ii) other Ministers in her Department and (iii) her officials. [52887]

Tessa Jowell

The decision as to who replies to correspondence is based on advice from officials. Of the 28,593 items of correspondence received by the Department in 2001–2002, all letters from honourable Members (18 per cent) received a reply from Ministers as did 8 per cent of the letters received from the general public.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) letters and faxes and (b) e-mails addressed to (i) her, (ii) other Ministers in her Department and (iii) officials her Department have received since 8 June 2001. [52888]

Tessa Jowell

In 2001–2002 the Department received 28,593 items of correspondence via letter, fax and email.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if her Department takes into account the political party of hon. Members when answering(a) letters from and (b) written questions tabled by hon. Members. [52879]

Tessa Jowell

No.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters(a) she and (b) Ministers in her Department have personally signed since 8 June 2001. [52889]

Tessa Jowell

Between 8 June 2001 and 27 March 2002 DCMS Ministers personally replied to 5,240 items of correspondence from hon. Members and the general public as follows;

Number
Secretary of State 673
Minister for the Arts 673
Minister for Sport 2,323
Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting 1,571

This excludes letters originating from Ministers as these records are not collected centrally.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's targets are for the length of time taken from the receipt of a letter from(a) a member of the public and (b) an hon. Member to the sending of a reply; and if those targets have been met since 8 June 2001. [52886]

Tessa Jowell

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 25 March 2002,Official Report, column 576W and on 17 April 2002, Official Report, column 955W.