§ John ThursoTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many(a) ordinary written and (b) named day questions his Department received in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) this parliamentary Session, broken down by month; [171196]
(2) what proportion of (a) ordinary written questions to his Department were answered within five sitting days of tabling and (b) questions for written answer on a named day received a substantive answer on that day in (i) the 2002-03 parliamentary Session and t ii) this parliamentary Session, broken down by month. [171197]
§ Mrs. McGuireThe breakdown of written questions received is as follows:
Ordinary written Named day Session 2002–03 November 2002 16 2 December 2002 9 6 January 2003 50 7 February 2003 19 4 March 2003 14 8 April 2003 28 2 460W
Ordinary written Named day May 2003 34 4 June 2003 59 6 July 2003 36 3 September 2003 8 1 October 2003 9 5 November 2003 8 — Session 2003–04 (to end June) November 2003 — 2 December 2003 12 5 January 2004 17 4 February 2004 19 4 March 2004 19 2 April 2004 23 — May 2004 26 3 June 2004 8 1 While records on average processing times are not collected, approximately 65 per cent. of the ordinary written questions were answered within five sitting days. Approximately 60 per cent. of the named day questions were answered by the date specified.