§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many officials he employed(a) full time and (b) part time in his Department in each of the last three years to answer letters sent to him from hon. Members; and what was the estimated overall costs of replying to them in each of the last three years. [5623]
The Deputy Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on 18 December 1995,Official Report, column 880.