§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how long on average it takes her Department to answer letters from hon. Members; what target date her Department sets; what percentage receive replies within the target date; and what assessment she has made of how long it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed. [27031]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 2 February 1998]: My Department aims to send substantive replies to 77 per cent. of all letters within 10 working days and 98 per cent. within 509W a calendar month. Figures are collected in relation to all letters to Ministers rather than those from hon. Members alone.
Since 1 May, 56 per cent. of letters were issued within the 10 day target. The average issue time for all letters was 12 days.
The Department does not measure the time it takes to deliver a letter after it has been typed.