HL Deb 04 November 1999 vol 606 cc97-8WA
Lord Selkirk of Douglas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their policy to answer within three weeks letters on Scottish matters which are revised; and, if not, what is their policy on the speed of replies; and [HL4275]

How many Written Questions, in both Houses of Parliament, on Scottish reserved matters have received holding replies since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament; and what percentage of the total this represents; and [HL4277]

In relation to written replies on reserved Scottish matters tabled to both Houses of Parliament since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, what is the average length of time taken to provide a substantive response to those Questions which received a holding reply from the date on which the holding reply was given; and [HL4278]

What are the time limits for answering, in both Houses of Parliament, Written Questions on matters relating to Scotland which are reserved; and, in the period since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, what has been their rate of success in adhering to this time limit. [HL4276]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

All letters addressed to Her Majesty's Government—including those on Scottish matters which are reserved—should be answered promptly and in line with published standards for answering correspondence. The current target for replying to correspondence—set out in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information—is 20 working days from date of receipt, although many departments and agencies set themselves more robust targets of 15 working days, or fewer. The target in my own department is 15 working days.

The Cabinet Office publication Guidance on Handling Correpondence under Devolution sets out the government policy on this area in more detail. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Information on questions on reserved Scottish matters, and on the average length of time for responses for those questions (including holding replies) is not collected in the form requested nor it held in the Cabinet Office, or other departments, and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.