HC Deb 03 June 1985 vol 80 cc74-5W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of the questions set down on the Order Paper for priority written answer by him, including Overseas Development questions, in (a) Session 1983–84 and (b) the current Session to date have initially received a holding reply.

Mr. Renton

Details, which have been drawn from departmental statistics, are as follows:

Department/Period Number of Priority Written Questions Number of Holding Replies Percentage
June 1983 to November
1984 Diplomatic wing 1,075 *22 2.04
(ODA) (305) (5) (1.63)
November 1984 to Whit
Recess 1985
Diplomatic wing 508 10 1.96
(ODA) (162) †(12) (7.4)
* figure includes 9 similar questions given a single holding reply.
† figure reflects 12 similar questions which received a single holding reply.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many parliament-tary questions (including Overseas Development questions) have been answered by Ministers in his Department in each of the last three complete Sessions, and the current Session to date; if he will break these figures down into questions tabled as oral questions, priority written questions and ordinary written questions, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

Details, which are drawn from departmental statistics, are as follows: