§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the latest figures, by Department, showing the volume of ministerial correspondence from hon. Members, the targets set for reply and the percentage of replies sent within target.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe 1991 figures are set out in the table.
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Ministerial correspondence from MPs—1991 Department, and target set for reply Number of letters received Percentage replies within target 7 working day target: Northern Ireland Office1,2 3719 46 10 working day target: Central Statistical Office 36 92 Department of Trade and Industry 1,416,180 92 Welsh Office5 18,018 89 Department of Energy 2,075 674 Cabinet Office (OMCS) 49 71 Ministry of Defence7 895 70 Office of Arts and Libraries 462 69 Treasury8 92,268 64 Scottish Office5 9,605 1024 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 911,378 12— 13 working day target: Inland Revenue8 9,132,345 78 Customs and Excise1,8 91,673 66 15 working day target: Overseas Development Administration 4,001 83 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 9,984 76 Legal Secretariat to the Law Office 662 75
Department, and target set for reply Number of letters received Percentage replies within target Northern Ireland Office1,2 14588 66 Ministry of Defence7 6,776 58 Department of the Environment 21,818 54 Crown Prosecution Service 100 1539 Department of Transport 161,398 26 17 working day target: Department of Employment 7,330 84 18 working day target: Inland Revenue8 9,17514 33 20 working day target: Lord Chancellor's Department5 4,130 82 Department of Social Security 1813,699 68 Department of Education and Science19 117,295 62 Department of Health 15,359 60 Other Home Office20 21,939 — 1Includes all Ministerial replies, not only letters from MPs. 1Figures for NI Departments cover October-December; those for NIO cover November-December. 3Replies signed by Minister. 4Includes correspondence for Export Credits Guarantee Department. 5Target for officials to submit draft reply to Ministers' Private Offices. 6Estimated figure based on sample of correspondence received. 7 MOD uses two target periods, which is a reflection of the different volume of Ministerial correspondence handled by the offices involved. 8Target for officials to submit draft reply to Treasury Ministerial Correspondence Unit. 9Figures only available for period June-December. 1060 per cent, of letters received by The Scottish Office received replies within 20 working days. 11Includes some letters signed by officials. 12FCO did not monitor performance against target in 1991. 13All cases where local office reports are not required. 14Replies signed by Private Secretary to Minister. 1571 per cent, of letters received from the Law Officers received replies within 20 working days. 16Figures for 1991 are only available for period mid-November to end December (which includes the Christmas recess) and are not thought to be representative of the Department's performance over the whole year. 17All cases where local office reports are required. 18Includes replies by Chief Executives of Agencies. 19Represents 1992 target. 20No single target for 1991. Monitoring showed average time taken to be 29–42 working days. New arrangements are being 1992–93.