HC Deb 16 November 1989 vol 160 cc487-8W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many(a) oral and (b) written questions were asked of his Department in 1988–89.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 14 November 1989]: To date this Session, the figures for questions directed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor are as follows:

Number
Oral 1,560
Priority written 889
Ordinary written 980

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions he refused to answer in the parliamentary Session 1988–89.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 14 November 1989]: None.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many written parliamentary questions to him in Session 1988–89 received answers that the information(a) was not available, (b) was not separately recorded, (c) was not centrally recorded, (d) was not recorded in Government statistics and (e) could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 14 November 1989]: This information is a matter of public record in the columns of the Official Report.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to his Department of answering parliamentary(a) oral and (b) written questions in the parliamentary Session 1988–89.

Mr. Ryder

[holding answer 14 November 1989]: Based on the estimated average cost of answering oral and written questions, which currently stands at £90 per oral and £54 per written, the cost to date has been (a) £128,610, (b) £94,338.