§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how long on average it takes his Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date his Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment he has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27041]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 2 February 1998]: The Department target is to respond to letters within 15 working days of receipt. Since the election Ministers have responded to 73 per cent. of letters within their deadline. This includes all Ministerial replies, not only those letters from hon. Members. On average Ministers have responded to all letters in 18.2 calendar days.
No assessment has been made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed.
284W
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make it his policy that he and his Ministers personally read the letters sent to them by hon. Members on constituency matters. [27669]
§ Dr. HowellsI can confirm that Ministers read all letters sent to them by hon. Members.