§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the target time will be in 2002–03 for(a) ministers to reply to letters from hon. Members and (b) officials in his Department to reply to letters received directly from members of the public. [44950]
§ Dr. WhiteheadThis Department's target for 2002–03 is for Ministers to respond to 76 per cent. of letters from hon. Member within 15 working days and 90 per cent. within 20 working days. For letters received directly from members of the public, the target for the centre of the Department for 2002–03 is for officials to respond within 15 working days. Our executive agencies also have a 15 working days target for such correspondence, with the exception of the Rent Service (five days), the Fire Service College (seven days) and the Driving Standards Agency (10 days).