Questions for Written Answer

HL Deb 08 June 2000 vol 613 c173WA

Lord Harris of Greenwich

asked the Leader of the House:

Why seven Questions for Written Answer tabled between 11 and 19 April remained unanswered on 16 May. [HL2525]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

The Leader of the House has asked me, as Minister with responsibility for Questions for Written Answer, to reply to the noble Lord's Question HL2525.

The Government's aim is to provide accurate and full answers to all Questions for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords within 14 days. In the majority of cases this target is met. However, some questions which need close co-ordination between various departments and which also lie within a fast moving policy area may not always meet this target.

I have looked at the seven questions to which the noble Lord refers and all but one fall into this category. The exception was due to a failure of communcation between departments. We have tightened up the system and will continue to do so as much as possible.