§ Mr. Tony ClarkeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish figures showing(a) the volume of correspondence received by ministers and agency chief executives from hon. Members in 2001, (b) the target times set for replies and (c) the number of replies sent within target times. [60380]
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§ Mr. LeslieThe attached table sets out Departments' and Agencies' performance in handling hon. Members' correspondence during the 2001 calendar year. It also sets out comparative figures for 2000 (first published on 6 April 2001,Official Report, columns 324W–327W). I am
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Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives1 2000 2001 Department or Agency Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received per cent of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received per cent of replies within target Cabinet Office 15 902 88 15 599 90 Leader of the House of Lord's Office2 — — — 15 53 80 Crown Prosecution Service3 15 18 100 15 97 94 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 3,240 82 18 4,416 90 HM Customs and Excise4 18 2,977 68 18 2,452 62 Ministry of Defence5 15 4,592 78 15 5,350 85 Army Personnel Centre 15 38 95 15 34 97 DERA 15 21 91 — — — Meteorological Office 15 16 94 15 20 80 Pay & Personnel Agency 10 31 43 — — — War Pensions Agency6 20 395 99 20 279 99 Department for Education and Skills7 15 22,318 72 15 18,237 76 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs8 15 6,137 30 15 9,905 34 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 20 9,020 78 20 10,275 79 Joint Entry Clearance Unit — — — 15 8,276 78 Department of Health 20 18,621 50 20 19,665 60 Food Standards Agency — — — 20 770 70 NHS Pensions Agency 15 54 85 15 65 98 Medicines Control Agency 15 25 68 10 17 82 Home Office9 *Non Prison Service correspondence 15 18,748 41 15 *16,251 35 **Prison Service correspondence 20 1,289 79 2010 **1,210 78 HM Prison Service 20 2,306 75 20 1,272 75 UK Passport Agency 10 188 100 10 279 87 Inland Revenue *All ministerial correspondence 18 5,770 72 18 *3,356 77 **Replies by departmental officials 23 533 53 1811 **382 75 Valuation Office 23 240 92 23 30 90 Department for International Development12 15 1,769 82 15 1,740 87 Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 204 93 15 284 96 Lord Chancellor's Department 20 1,844 74 20 1,737 74 Court Service13 20 845 66 15 591 68 HM Land Registry 20 41 93 20 24 79 Public Records Office 20 26 100 10 11 100 Public Guardianship Office14 15 124 88 15 120 62 Northern Ireland Office15 10 594 71 10 358 49 Compensation Agency for NI 7 16 100 7 27 93 Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 37 70 10 27 78 Office for National Savings 10 154 86 15 63 62 Office for National Statistics 15 192 77 *Letters where Chief Executive replied on Minister's behalf 10 167 79 10 154* 63 President of the Council's Office 15 271 94 15 237 74 Scotland Office 15 125 64 15 96 75 Department for Trade and Industry16 10 18,858 60 10 9,260 49 Companies House 10 44 100 10 50 100 Employment Tribunals Service 10 30 97 15 12 100 Insolvency Service17 10 334 87 10 292 80 Patent Office 10 311 99 10 154 95 Radiocommunications Agency 15 20 100 15 15 100 Small Business Service18 — — — 10 47 96 Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions19 15 19,636 69 15 14,375 84 Driving Standards Agency 15 91 99 15 82 100 DVLA 10 1,136 99 10 915 98 Highways Agency 15 314 78 15 322 96 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 15 19 100 15 21 95 Planning Inspectorate 8 310 90 8 364 94 Vehicle Inspectorate 15 13 100 15 32 94 HM Treasury20 15 4,061 60 15 4,039 78 pleased to report that the table continues to show a steady improvement in overall performance.
The footnotes to the table provide general background information on how the figures have been compiled.
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Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives1 2000 2001 Department or Agency Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received per cent of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received per cent of replies within target Treasury Solicitor's Department 10 35 100 10 39 100 Wales Office 15 344 42 15 91 63 Department for Work and Pensions21 20 16,283 75 20 12,698 66 Appeals Service22 — — — 15 87 64 Benefits Agency 20 2,642 45 20 2,529 90 Child Support Agency23 18 5,806 97 20 3,293 58 Employment Service24 15 592 98 15 520 94 1The 2000 figures are taken from the 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324W–327W. Please refer to relevant footnotes regarding 2000 figures. Departments and Agencies who received a total of 10 letters or less from MPs during 2001 are not shown in this table. 2The figures relate to correspondence until General Election and are in connection with Baroness Jay's role as Minister for Women. Correspondence after Election refers to House business only, therefore, information on that is not included. 3Letters in 2001 addressed to the Law Officers, but subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions. In addition the CPS received 480 letters direct from MPs in 2001. 92 per cent replied to within 15 working days. 4Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replies to letters from MPs. 5Figures include correspondence from Members of Devolved Legislatures, MEPs and Peers. 6Agency transferred across from the former Department of Social Security with effect from 11 June 2001. 72000 figures are for the Department for Education and Employment. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Department for Education and Employment. 82000 figures are for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Progress to improve MAFF/DEFRA's performance on correspondence in 2001 was severely hindered by the foot and mouth disease crisis, as well as convergence issues arising from the creation of the new Department. DEFRA's performance is now much improved, with most letters receiving responses within a month of receipt, and around 50 per cent of responses currently issuing within the Departmental target of 15 working days. 9Home Office is aware of the poor performance in 2001, however, the Home Secretary is taking the necessary steps to improve performance in 2002. This has had a positive impact on the performance for the first quarter of this year. 10The 20 working day target takes account of particular geographical circumstances. The target is the same whether replies are sent by Minister or by the Director General. 11Target has been reduced from 23 days to 18. 12If replies to letters about the Afghanistan crisis were excluded (Sept-Dec) overall per cent of replies within targets would be 92 per cent. 13Letters signed by the Agency Chief Executive of the Court Service, whether received direct or transferred from Ministers. 14Formerly the Public Trust Office, re-named as the PGO with effect from 1 April 2001. 15Reflects the impact of devolution and requirements for consultation with outside agencies. 162001 figures reflect correspondence from MPs only. 2000 figures reflect all Ministerial correspondence. DTI aware of poor performance in 2001 and are currently reviewing their correspondence handling system. 1794 per cent of letters were answered within agreed extended deadlines. 18Response time recorded for 32 of letters received. No response time recorded for 15 letters. 192000 figures are for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. 20Includes all Ministerial replies, not only replies to letters from MPs. 212000 figures are for the Department of Social Security. 2001 figures reflect machinery of government changes at the General Election, include figures for former Department of Social Security. In the period from June 2001, following the introduction of the Department for Work and Pensions, the average response time was reduced from 18 to 15 working days and 71 per cent of the replies were sent within target. 22The average handling time, which covers all letters, was 14 working days. For the second half of the period 1 June to 31 December the percentage of replies within the target rose to 82 per cent. 23The average handling time which covers all letters was 21 working days. CSA has now changed its complaints handling process. Senior managers are more responsible for the timeliness and quality of responses. The role of the Parliamentary Correspondence Unit has been changed to an active performance management and escalation function reporting directly to the Chief Executive. 24An Agency of DWP following machinery of government changes at the General Election. 2001 figures also include letters received when an Agency of the former Department for Education and Employment.