§ Mr. CummingsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past five years Ministers in his Deaprtmetn have passed(a) hon. Members' letters and (b) hon. Members' questions to agencies for response; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of letters and questions received. [19421]
§ Sir John WheelerThe number of hon. Members' letters to Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Departments which were passed to agencies for response in each of the last five years are as follows:
- 1991: 36
- 1992: 44
- 1993: 188
- 1994: 215
- 1995: 223
It is not possible to give a percentage figure as all the necessary information is not held centrally.
Responses to individual questions is a matter of public record, but composite information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.