§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of letters from hon. Members to his Department received a reply(a) in under four weeks, (b) within four to six weeks, (c) within six to eight weeks and (d) over eight weeks, in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe information is not available for the last three years. Since last October, my Department has replied to some 24,000 letters from right hon. and hon. Members, of these 64 per cent. were sent within four weeks of receiving the letter, 21 per cent. within four to six weeks, 8 per cent. within six to eight weeks and 7 per cent. in over eight weeks.