HC Deb 05 February 2002 vol 379 cc865-6W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target has been set for responding to hon. Members' letters to the Immigration Department. [31579]

Angela Eagle

The Home Office's published service delivery agreement for 2001–04 commits all Home Office Directorates, including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), to replying to 95 per cent. of public correspondence within 20 working days and 95 per cent. of ministerial correspondence within 15 working days by the end of 2001–02. Improving performance against published targets for dealing with correspondence is recognised as a priority for IND as part of the wider Home Office programme to modernise business processes and information management.

IND has dedicated resources to improve the service provided to MPs on casework related correspondence.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to provide a substantive reply to the letter of 25 September from the hon. Member for Christchurch about alcohol and under-age drinkers. [28425]

Mr. Denham

[holding answer 18 January 2002]: I wrote to the hon. Member, in reply to his letter, on 30 January 2002.