HC Deb 03 June 1985 vol 80 cc17-8W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

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

Mr. Brittan

The information is as follows:

Session 1983–84 Session*1984–85
Total number of priority written questions tabled 1,733 900
Number initially given a holding reply 110 65
Expressed as a percentage of total 6.35 6.56

*To 24 May 1985.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary 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. Brittan

The information according to Departmental records is as follows:

Session 1981–82 Session 1982–83 Session 1983–84 Session* 1984–85
Oral† 318 229 511 409
Priority written 879 562 1,733 990
Written 1,098 885 1,817 1,076
Total 2,295 1,676 4,061 2,475
*To 24 May 1985.
†Not necessarily reached during Question time. Holding and pursuant replies are counted as separate answers.