HC Deb 26 July 1988 vol 138 c238W
Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time taken by his Department to respond to correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members during the summer recess.

Mr. Ridley

Precise information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost A random sample taken during the 1984 summer recess suggested that the average time taken to reply to right hon. and hon. Members was then approximately 25 days.