§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) Parliamentary Questions and (ii) ministerial letters. [99426]
§ John Healey273 of the 369 Named Day questions tabled to Treasury Ministers in the period concerned (74 per cent.) received replies on the nominated day for answering. Of the 96 remaining questions, 23 received replies within three days of the nominated day, 46 within a week, 19 within 28 days, and eight over 28 days.
Treasury Ministers attach a high importance to parliamentary questions on time. Performance is monitored continually by officials and reported regularly to Minister. Ministers also receive regular reports on correspondence: 78 per cent. of letters to Ministers are currently being answered within 15 working days, an increase from 44 per cent. in 1999.