§ Mr. FoulkesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many inquiries have been received by his Department under the terms of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992; how many of these have been refused, and on what grounds; what has been the cost of substantive responses to such requests; and what amount has been received from those making requests towards recovery of these costs. [16807]
§ Mr. SoamesMy Department's records indicate that, from 1 January 1993 to 31 January 1997, we received 108 questions. Before November 1995, only queries quoting the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 were classed as made under those terms. Subsequently, all queries on environmental issues have been treated as made under EIR92; 102 such queries have been received. None has been refused an answer.
My Department seeks to recover costs only if it is estimated that the work involved will exceed four man hours. Questioners in such cases are advised beforehand of the estimated costs and asked to confirm that they wish to proceed; to date, none has done so.
No records are made of the actual costs of providing substantive answers for which no charge is raised.