§ Mr. PopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health during the last year for which figures are available, how many letters from hon. Members were replied to(a) within six months, (b) within six to nine months, (c) within nine to 12 months and (d) in over 12 months; and what was the average time taken by ministers in the Department to reply to hon. Members' correspondence in that period. [87051]
§ Mr. LammyThe information is shown in the table.
Period Number of letters (a)Within six months 15,080 (b)Within 6–9 months 489 (c)Between 9–12 months 205 (d)Over 12 months 74 Average time to reply for the 12 month period: 44.8 days A Customer Service Project has been set up under the Department's change programme. The aim of this project is to significantly improve the Department's performance in handling telephone, written and e-mail inquiries from members of the public and their representatives and to maximise the potential of the Department's website and other forms of communication media.