§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was, for each year since 1995, (1) the average response time for providing a substantive answer to(a) hon. Members' correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords; [7025]
(2) the total number of (a) letters from hon. Members, (b) letters from members of the public and (c) parliamentary questions from (i) hon. Members and (ii) Lords dealt with by his Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if he will make a statement. [7026]
§ Mr. BoatengTreasury Ministers attach great importance to the efficient, effective and expeditious handling of correspondence and parliamentary questions.
859WInformation relating to the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall is published by the Cabinet Office. The figures for 2000 were given on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W, and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.
The number of written questions answered by Treasury Ministers in each House since 1995–96 is given in the table.
House of Commons House of Lords 1995–96 1,851 N/A 1996–97 657 29 1997–98 4,554 282 1998–99 2,097 156 1999–2000 2,857 274 2000–01 1,297 107 The information sought by the hon. Member concerning average and other response times for parliamentary questions is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.