§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the longest period of time between a Minister in his Department giving a holding answer to a priority written question and the substantive answer over the last 12 months; and what is the longest similar period for such a question given a holding answer but for which a substantive answer has not yet been given; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdOur records show that, over the last 12 months, the vast majority of priority written questions initially given a holding reply received a substantive answer within a month. In the same period, the longest interval between a holding reply and the substantive answer being given to a priority written question was two months and six days, and the longest period for which a substantive reply is still outstanding is seven months.
I regret that it has not yet been possible to give a substantive answer to my hon. Friend's question of 29 November. I understand that my hon. and learned Friend hopes to give a full reply within the next two weeks.