§ David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time was 1227W for a substantive response his Department to (a) written questions, (b) hon. Members' written correspondence and (c) public correspondence in 2003–04. [1705291]
§ Mr. BlunkettThe last published performance figures for the Home Office showed that 37 per cent. of all parliamentary questions and 56 per cent. of Members written correspondence were answered within parliamentary deadlines. I have been very clear this is not acceptable and needs to he substantially improved.
As a result, last year the Department introduced a new correspondence tracking system and in the last few months our performance in meeting the targets for answering Members written correspondence to Ministers increased substantially. In relation to parliamentary questions, we are currently in the process of introducing a new system, the electronic Parliamentary Questions System (ePQS) to better monitor and manage the Department's performance.
In relation to public correspondence, we are currently looking at how to improve the tracking and monitoring of performance across the Department. Figures are not currently available except at disproportionate cost.