HC Deb 04 February 2000 vol 343 cc778-9W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many questions to his Department were tabled for written answer during session 1998–99; and how many of these he replied to(a) by means of a letter placed in the Library rather than by substantive answer in the Official Report, (b) by stating that a substantive answer could not be given due to information not being held centrally and (c) by stating that a substantive answer could not be given due to disproportionate cost. [106486]

Mr. Wills

During the Parliamentary session 1998–99, 2,154 PQs were tabled to the Department for written answer.

We do not maintain statistical records breaking down the nature of replies given in the manner requested. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many questions to his Department tabled for ordinary written answer during Session 1998–99 were answered(a) within two weeks of tabling, (b) within one month of tabling, (c) within three months of tabling and (d) after three months of tabling. [106490]

Mr. Wills

We do not record this information in precisely the manner requested, but I am able to provide the following information:

During the Parliamentary session 1998–99, 1,189 PQs were tabled to the Department for ordinary written answer. Of these 1,141 PQs (96 per cent.) were answered within two weeks of tabling, 42 PQs (3 per cent.) were answered between two weeks and four weeks of tabling, and six PQs (1 per cent.) were answered between four weeks and three months of tabling. No PQs were answered more than three months after tabling.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many questions to his Department tabled for written answer on a named day during the session 1998–99 were answered(a) on or before a named day, (b) by within one week of a named day, (c) within one month of a named day, (d) within three months of a named day and (e) after three months of a named day. [106479]

Mr. Wills

We do not record this information in precisely the manner requested, but I am able to provide the following information:

During the Parliamentary session 1998–99, 965 PQs were tabled to the Department for answer on a named day. Of these 714 PQs (74 per cent.) were answered on the named day; 192 PQs (20 per cent.) were answered within one week of the named day; 50 PQs (5 per cent.) were answered between one week and four weeks of the named day; and nine PQs (1 per cent.) were answered between four weeks and three months of the named day. No PQs were answered more than three months after the named day.