HC Deb 16 November 2001 vol 374 cc962-3W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of those named day parliamentary written questions to his Department that received a holding answer between 15 October and 5 November received the substantive answer(a) within three parliamentary days, (b) within seven parliamentary days, (c) within 10 parliamentary days, (d) within 15 parliamentary days and (e) over 15 parliamentary days after the holding answer was issued; [13322]

(2) how many named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to his Department between 15 October and 5 November; and what proportion of these have received holding answers. [13303]

Mr. Blunkett

156 named day parliamentary written questions were tabled to the Home Department for answer between 15 October and 5 November. Of these, 92 (59 per cent.) were given a holding answer.

Of these 92 questions:

  1. (a) 62 were given a substantive answer within three parliamentary days,
  2. (b) 12 were given a substantive answer between four and seven parliamentary days,
  3. (c) seven were given a substantive answer between eight and 10 parliamentary days,
  4. (d) seven were given a substantive answer between 11 and 15 parliamentary days, and
  5. (e) three were given a substantive answer over 15 parliamentary days after the holding answer was issued.

A further one has yet to be answered.