§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Prime Minister what measures she will take to improve the performance of Government Departments in answering letters from hon. Members.
§ The Prime MinisterThere are nearly 250,000 replies a year from Ministers to letters from hon. Members and replies are sent at official level to several million letters received direct from members of the public. It is clearly in the interests of Members, the public and Ministers that this correspondence is conducted speedily and efficiently. I have therefore asked the efficiency unit to conduct an interdepartmental scrutiny into the methods and costs of handling this correspondence, and to seek the views of hon. Members and others who receive replies, so as to identify good methods of operation and recommend them for adoption by all departments. Departmental performance will be monitored and a Minister in each Department will be given responsibility for overseeing progress. In appropriate cases, Members of Parliament are encouraged to write in the first instance to civil service agencies, or the local offices directly concerned.