§ Mr. SoleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what period of time his Department expects letters from the public to be answered. [105315]
§ Mr. WillsThe Home Office aims to answer 95 per cent, of public correspondence within 20 working days in line with its published Service Delivery Agreement target.
Home Office performance against this target for the period April 2002 to February 2003 for non-immigration matters currently stands cumulatively at 90 per cent, answered within 20 working days. No performance data are held currently for public correspondence on immigration and nationality matters.
Improving performance against published targets is recognised as a priority across the Department. A new computerised Correspondence Tracking System is being introduced currently into non-immigration areas of the Department, and will make it possible for targets to be
Home Office Payment Performance 2001–02 Number of invoices paid Number paid on time Percentage paid within 30 days Number of invoices paid late Percentage of invoices paid late Home Office 142,025 130,725 92.0 11,300 8.0 Agencies Forensic Science Service 28,140 27,376 97.3 764 2.7 UK Passports and Records Agency 13,493 12,989 96.3 504 3.7 Prison Service 500,175 475,720 95.1 24,455 4.9 Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) (See Note 1) (See Note 1) Police IT Organisation 10,461 10,384 99.3 77 0.7 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 2,159 2,158 100.0 1 0.0 Youth Justice Board 11,614 10,731 92.4 883 7.6 Community Development Foundation (See Note 2) 4,622 4,595 99.4 28 0.6 Commission for Racial Equality 7,829 4,384 56.0 3,445 44.0 Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner 759 740 97.5 19 2.5 Police Complaints Authority 507 506 99.8 1 0.2 Parole Board 300 294 98.0 6 2.0 Police Information Technology Organisation 10,461 10,384 99.3 77 0.7 Criminal Cases Review Commission 2,706 2,701 99.8 5 0.2 Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority 2,159 2,158 100.0 1 0.0 Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel 21,525 20,664 96.0 861 4.0 Youth Justice Board 11,614 10,731 92.4 883 7.6 Notes:
1. The National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the Central Police Training and Development Authority were not constituted as NDPBs until 2002–03.
2. The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) had credit control problems with service providers in 2001–02 which resulted in a significant number of invoices being kept back, creating a backlog of payments. The Commission have been making a special effort to improve their payment performance in 2002–03 and this is reflected in a considerable improvement in the figures, with 77 per cent. paid within terms compared with 56 per cent, in the previous year (figures provided by CRE).
384Wachieved for the first time. The same system will be introduced into immigration and nationality areas later in the year.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Minister will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald, dated 13 September 2002, 11 November 2002, 27 January 2003 and 7 February 2003. [106487]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 1 April 2003]: I replied to the right hon. Member's letters of 13 September and 11 November on 7 January 2003, and to her letters of 27 January and 7 February on 10 April 2003.
§ Keith VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he has taken in response to the letter from IND to the hon. Member for Leicester, East dated 3 October 2002 concerning the case of Mr. Mahmood Mohd Jibreel, date of birth 31 December 1968; [106930]
(2) if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Mahmood Mohd Jibreel, of Leicester, date of birth 31 December 1968, and the reasons for the length of time to take a decision on whether he is entitled to indefinite leave.[106929]
§ Beverley HughesI wrote to my hon. Friend on 9 April 2003.