HC Deb 25 October 2001 vol 373 cc364-5W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what was, for each year since 1995, the average response time for providing a substantive answer to(a) hon. Member's correspondence, (b) correspondence from members of the public and (c) written parliamentary questions in the (i) Commons and (ii) Lords; [7043]

(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. [7044]

Mr. Morley

The effective handling of correspondence and PQs 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 19 July 2001, Official Report, columns 454–56W.

This Department was created on 8 June 2001, bringing together some groups from the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and animal welfare issues and fox hunting from the Home Office. The information requested is therefore not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will answer the question tabled by the hon. Member for Yeovil (ref 148) on 20 July. [9963]

Mr. Morley

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 15 October 2001,Official Report, column 1073W.