§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets(a) her and (b) her Ministers' offices have for responding to constituency mail; and if she will set out the performance achieved in the last 12 months against these targets. [145603]
§ Mr. CabornThe departmental target for responding to constituency mail (i.e. letters from hon. Members and the public) is 18 working days.
The figures for performance against target for the period 1 December 2002 to 1 December 2003 are as follows:
Percentage answered within 18 working days
MPs cases 79 Members of the public 73 The Department produces regular statistics to monitor the performance on answering ministerial letters. These statistics are produced for review and discussion by the permanent secretary and the management board.
In addition, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on performance of Departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The report for 2002 was published on 15 May 2003. The report for 2003 will be published in due course.