§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff were involved in each of the last three years in preparing draft answers to written parliamentary questions; [49136]
(2) what the cost was to his Department of answering written parliamentary questions in 2001; and how that cost was calculated. [49094]
§ Beverley HughesI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend, Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Cook) on 17 April 2002,Official Report, column 929W. The Home Office answered 4,067 written questions in 2001, at an approximate cost of £516,195.