§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many letters he received from hon. Members in each month for the last four months;
(2) what was the average delay between receipt of letters from hon. Members to date of reply in each of the last four months.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information in respect of letters, most of which were from hon. Members receiving a ministerial reply, is as follows:
221W
Totals January 1989 Letters received 1,333 Average time to reply 45 days February 1989 Letters received 1,533 Average time to reply 35 days
Totals March 1989 Letters received 1,676 Average time to reply 32 days April 1989 Letters received 1,714 Average time to reply 38 days
§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what steps are being taken to deal with correspondence from hon. Members more expeditiously;
(2) what proportion of letters from hon. Members sent to his office he estimates could have been dealt with more speedily by the local Department of Social Services office concerned; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe are constantly seeking to improve the service provided to hon. Members.
As my hon. Friend suggests, usually the most satisfactory way to resolve queries relating to the personal circumstances of individual constituents is to take them up directly with the manager of the appropriate local or Central office. Many hon. Members already do so. However, no figures are kept on which an estimate could be made of the proportion of letters which could be dealt with more speedily in this way.