§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of written questions to his Department was answered by a note promising a reply as soon as possible in the first two months of 1980 as compared with the first two months of 1979.
§ Mr. Lawson80 per cent. and 62 per cent. in the first two months of 1980 and 1979 respectively. This was associated with a 90 per cent. increase in the number of questions tabled between the two periods. 58 per cent. of that increase 149W was attributable to questions tabled by the hon. Member, who accounted for 28 per cent. of all questions tabled during the first two months of 1980 and received 24 per cent. of the interim notes. The total number of questions receiving an immediate substantive reply was unchanged between the two periods.