§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of mail received in the last 12 months for which figures are available from right hon. and hon. Members was replied to by him within(a) up to 20 days, (b) 21 to 30 days, (c) 31 to 40 days and (d) over 40 days. [90164]
§ Mr. HoonI refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office to my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 11 June 1999,Official Report, columns 403–06 which sets out departmental performance against the targets set for answering correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members in the 1998 calendar year.
The percentage of mail received in the last 12 months from right hon. and hon. Members which are replied to within the timescales specified could be provided only at disproportionate cost.