§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average time his Department takes in replying to an hon. Member's letter; and what is(a) the shortest time and (b) the longest time it has taken to reply in full to an hon. Member's letter in the last Session of Parliament.
§ Mr. LilleyOn average my Department replies to letters from hon. Members within about 13 working days. The shortest time to reply to a letter in the last Session of Parliament was one day. The question about the longest time to reply to a letter can be answered only at a disproportionate cost.