§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of correspondence received by(a) her Department and (b) each of her Department's agencies receives (i) an acknowledgement within five days and (ii) a substantive reply within 15 days.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Department and all its agencies have targets for answering all correspondence within 28 days of receipt. All letters receiving a ministerial reply are acknowledged within five days of receipt. For the period 1 January 1993 to 30 November 1993, 71.5 per cent. of such letters received a reply within the target period. More detailed information on correspondence receiving a response from officials could be provided only at disproportionate cost.