§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Lord President of the Council what is the proportion of questions tabled for written reply that Ministers of Her Majesty's Government have declined to answer substantively over the past year on the grounds that to do so would incur a disproportionate cost.
Session 1992–93 (up to and including 7 May 1993) Department Number of POLIS entries for written answers Number of POLIS entries including reference to "disproportionate" Answer to Mr. G. Allen Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1,713 10 17 May 1993 c. 25w Defence 2,381 50 17 May 1993 c. 85–6w Education 1,654 6 17 May 1993 c. 23–4w Employment 1,697 38 18 May 1993 c. 132–3w Environment 3,701 17 17 May 1993 c. 61w Foreign and Commonwealth Office (including Overseas Development Administration) 2,625 20 17 May 1993 c. 48w Health 3,849 26 17 May 1993 c. 30–1w Home Office 3,095 45 17 May 1993 c. 64–5w National Heritage 666 0 18 May 1993 c. 125–6w Northern Ireland 1,237 33 —— Prime Minister 949 11 17 May 1993 c. 34w Scotland 2,241 9 —— Social Security 2,081 79 17 May 1993 c. 79–80w Trade and Industry 3,151 19 21 May 1993 c. 346w Transport 2,609 18 17 May 1993 c. 3w Treasury 2,044 13 17 May 1993 c. 14w Wales 2,919 20 —— Attorney-General 172 2 —— Lord Chancellor 627 22 —— Duchy of Lancaster 403 4 —— Lord President of the Council 99 (as leader) 4 —— 32 0 ——