§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what was, for each year since 1995, 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; [7003]
(2) what was, for each year since 1995, 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 her Department; what percentage took (A) more than one month and (B) more than three months to provide a substantive answer; and if she will make a statement. [7004]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisThe effective handling of correspondence and parliamentary questions is an issue to which I, and ministerial colleagues, attach great importance.
General information on the volumes of correspondence received across Whitehall and on overall performance is published by the Cabinet Office. Figures for 2000 were published on 6 April 2001, Official Report, columns 324–28W and on 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.
Information on response times of parliamentary questions (PQs) for years prior to the 1998–99 parliamentary session is not held centrally.
The average response times for Commons and Lords written PQs could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the tables show the data that are readily available on PQ response rates.
1185W
Session 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 Lords Written PQs answered: within 14 days of tabling1 132 134 53 12 up to two days after 0 0 1 0 between three days and one week after 0 0 2 0 between one and four weeks after 0 0 0 0 between four weeks and three months after 0 0 4 0 over three months after 0 0 0 0 Total 132 134 60 12 1 In accordance with section 4.108 of the Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords