§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer(a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and 759W what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) Parliamentary Questions and (ii) ministerial letters. [99432]
§ Mr. StrawBetween 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003,259 named day written questions were tabled to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, of these 59 received a holding answer. Of those that received a holding answer 43 received a substantive answer within three days, seven received an answer within seven days, five received an answer within 14 days and one received an answer within 28 days. Three questions are still awaiting a substantive answer.
My Department records statistics on a daily basis to monitor performance in answering parliamentary questions. I attach great importance to replying to questions fully and promptly and regularly emphasise this to Ministers and officials.
The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The Report for 2001 was published on Friday 24 May 2002, column 674W. The Report for 2002 will be published in due course.