House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Apr 2001 (pt 11)

CABINET OFFICE

Correspondence

Mr. Watts: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence received by Ministers and agency chief executives from hon. Members in 2000, indicating the target times set for replies and the replies sent within those target times. [157532]

Marjorie Mowlam: The following table sets out Departments' and Agencies' performance in handling hon. Members' correspondence during the 2000 calendar year. It also sets out comparative figures for 1999

6 Apr 2001 : Column: 325W

(first published on 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 386-89W). I am pleased to report that the table shows a steady improvement in overall performance.

6 Apr 2001 : Column: 326W

Hon. Members' attention is drawn to the footnotes which accompany the table and which provide general background information on how the figures are compiled.

6 Apr 2001 : Column: 325W

Correspondence from MPs to Ministers and Agency chief executives

1999 2000

Department or Agency Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target Target set for reply (working days) Number of letters received Percentage of replies within target

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 15 7,021 60 15 ⁽¹⁸⁾6,137 30

Cabinet Office 15 552 85 15 902 88

Crown Prosecution Service 15 30 93 15 ⁽¹⁹⁾18 100

Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 5,502 90 18 3,240 82

HM Customs and Excise 18 3,009 38 18 ⁽²⁰⁾2,977 68

Ministry of Defence 15 5,488 66 15 ⁽²¹⁾4,592 78

Army Personnel Centre 15 42 84 15 38 95

DERA 15 35 89 15 21 91

Meteorological Office 15 12 83 15 16 94

Pay and Personnel Agency -- -- -- 10 31 43

Department for International Development 15 2,750 93 15 ⁽²²⁾1,769 82

Department for Education and Employment 15 21,196 75 15 22,318 72

Employment Service 15 635 98 15 592 98

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 15 15,768 45 15 19,636 69

Driving Standards Agency 15 124 68 15 91 99

DVLA 7 855 98 10 1,136 99

Highways Agency 15 357 79 15 314 78

Maritime and Coastguard Agency 15 22 91 15 19 100

Planning Inspectorate 8 204 92 8 ⁽²³⁾310 90

Vehicle Inspectorate 15 18 94 15 13 100

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 20 11,921 75 ⁽²⁴⁾20 9,020 78

15 9,482 37 ⁽²⁵⁾15 8,121 50

Department of Health 20 18,346 47 20 ⁽²⁶⁾18,621 50

NHS Pensions Agency 15 51 84 15 54 85

Medicines Control Agency 10 70 68 15 25 68

Home Office 15 16,826 45 15 ⁽²⁷⁾18,748 ⁽²⁸⁾41

20 877 79 20 ⁽²⁹⁾1,289 79

HM Prison Service 20 2,514 73 20 2,306 75

UK Passport Agency 10 703 35 100 188 100

Inland Revenue 18 5,872 49 18 ⁽²⁰⁾5,770 72

23 368 60 23 ⁽³⁰⁾533 53

Valuation Office 23 24 81 23 240 92

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 223 95 15 204 93

Lord Chancellor's Department 20 2,038 82 20 ⁽³¹⁾1,844 74

Court Service 20 898 79 ⁽³²⁾20 ⁽³³⁾845 66

HM Land Registry 20 53 91 20 ⁽³³⁾41 93

Public Records Office -- -- -- 20 ⁽³³⁾26 100

Public Trust Office 15 42 95 15 ⁽³³⁾124 88

Northern Ireland Office 10 1,897 78 10 594 71

Compensation Agency for NI 7 23 100 7 16 100

Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 37 92 10 37 70

Office for National Savings -- -- -- 10 ⁽³³⁾154 86

Office for National Statistics 10 275 98 10 ⁽³⁴⁾167 79

President of the Council's Office 15 151 81 15 271 94

The Scotland Office 15 105 72 15 125 64

Department of Social Security 20 16,555 66 20 16,283 75

Benefits Agency 20 2,033 70 20 2,642 ⁽³⁵⁾45

Child Support Agency 18 5,661 98 18 5,806 97

War Pensions Agency 20 477 100 20 395 99

Department of Trade and Industry 10 20,889 50 10 ⁽²⁰⁾18,858 60

Companies House 10 19 100 10 44 100

Employment Tribunals Service -- -- -- 10 ⁽³⁶⁾30 97

Insolvency Service 10 22 86 10 ⁽³⁷⁾334 87

Patent Office 10 308 88 10 ⁽³⁸⁾311 99

Radiocommunications Agency 15 39 97 15 20 100

HM Treasury 15 5,322 44 15 ⁽²⁰⁾4,061 60

Treasury Solicitor's Department 10 40 100 10 ⁽³⁹⁾35 100

Wales Office 15 61 64 15 ⁽⁴⁰⁾344 42

	1999	2000
Department or Agency	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	Percentage of replies within target	Target set for reply (working days)	Number of letters received	Percentage of replies within target
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	15	7,021	60	15	⁽¹⁸⁾6,137	30
Cabinet Office	15	552	85	15	902	88
Crown Prosecution Service	15	30	93	15	⁽¹⁹⁾18	100
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	18	5,502	90	18	3,240	82
HM Customs and Excise	18	3,009	38	18	⁽²⁰⁾2,977	68

Ministry of Defence	15	5,488	66	15	⁽²¹⁾4,592	78
Army Personnel Centre	15	42	84	15	38	95
DERA	15	35	89	15	21	91
Meteorological Office	15	12	83	15	16	94
Pay and Personnel Agency	--	--	--	10	31	43

Department for International Development	15	2,750	93	15	⁽²²⁾1,769	82

Department for Education and Employment	15	21,196	75	15	22,318	72
Employment Service	15	635	98	15	592	98

Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions	15	15,768	45	15	19,636	69
Driving Standards Agency	15	124	68	15	91	99
DVLA	7	855	98	10	1,136	99
Highways Agency	15	357	79	15	314	78
Maritime and Coastguard Agency	15	22	91	15	19	100
Planning Inspectorate	8	204	92	8	⁽²³⁾310	90
Vehicle Inspectorate	15	18	94	15	13	100

Foreign and Commonwealth Office	20	11,921	75	⁽²⁴⁾20	9,020	78
	15	9,482	37	⁽²⁵⁾15	8,121	50

Department of Health	20	18,346	47	20	⁽²⁶⁾18,621	50
NHS Pensions Agency	15	51	84	15	54	85
Medicines Control Agency	10	70	68	15	25	68

Home Office	15	16,826	45	15	⁽²⁷⁾18,748	⁽²⁸⁾41
	20	877	79	20	⁽²⁹⁾1,289	79
HM Prison Service	20	2,514	73	20	2,306	75
UK Passport Agency	10	703	35	100	188	100

Inland Revenue	18	5,872	49	18	⁽²⁰⁾5,770	72
	23	368	60	23	⁽³⁰⁾533	53
Valuation Office	23	24	81	23	240	92

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	15	223	95	15	204	93

Lord Chancellor's Department	20	2,038	82	20	⁽³¹⁾1,844	74
Court Service	20	898	79	⁽³²⁾20	⁽³³⁾845	66
HM Land Registry	20	53	91	20	⁽³³⁾41	93
Public Records Office	--	--	--	20	⁽³³⁾26	100
Public Trust Office	15	42	95	15	⁽³³⁾124	88

Northern Ireland Office	10	1,897	78	10	594	71
Compensation Agency for NI	7	23	100	7	16	100
Northern Ireland Prison Service	10	37	92	10	37	70

Office for National Savings	--	--	--	10	⁽³³⁾154	86
Office for National Statistics	10	275	98	10	⁽³⁴⁾167	79
President of the Council's Office	15	151	81	15	271	94
The Scotland Office	15	105	72	15	125	64

Department of Social Security	20	16,555	66	20	16,283	75
Benefits Agency	20	2,033	70	20	2,642	⁽³⁵⁾45
Child Support Agency	18	5,661	98	18	5,806	97
War Pensions Agency	20	477	100	20	395	99
Department of Trade and Industry	10	20,889	50	10	⁽²⁰⁾18,858	60
Companies House	10	19	100	10	44	100
Employment Tribunals Service	--	--	--	10	⁽³⁶⁾30	97
Insolvency Service	10	22	86	10	⁽³⁷⁾334	87
Patent Office	10	308	88	10	⁽³⁸⁾311	99
Radiocommunications Agency	15	39	97	15	20	100

HM Treasury	15	5,322	44	15	⁽²⁰⁾4,061	60
Treasury Solicitor's Department	10	40	100	10	⁽³⁹⁾35	100
Wales Office	15	61	64	15	⁽⁴⁰⁾344	42

⁽¹⁸⁾ Includes correspondence on the Intervention Board

⁽¹⁹⁾ Letter addressed to the Law Officers but subsequently replied to by the Director of Public Prosecutions. In addition, the CPS received 490 letters direct from MPs between 1 January and 31 December 2000, of which 96 per cent. were replied to within 15 workings days

⁽²⁰⁾ Includes all ministerial replies, not only replies to letters from MPs

⁽²¹⁾ Includes letters from MPs, MDLs, MEPs and Peers. Also includes 293 letters where Agency chief executives replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽²²⁾ 90 per cent. of letters from MPs replied to within 20 working days

⁽²³⁾ Include 139 cases relating to Wales

⁽²⁴⁾ Excluding correspondence on migration and visa matters

⁽²⁵⁾ Correspondence on migration and visa matters only

⁽²⁶⁾ In addition, the chief executive of the Food Standards Agency replied to 537 letters from MPs on behalf of Health Ministers

⁽²⁷⁾ Excluding correspondence on Prison Service matters

⁽²⁸⁾ Excluding correspondence on Immigration and Nationality matters, the Home Office replied to 76 per cent. of letters from MPs within 15 working days

⁽²⁹⁾ Correspondence on Prison Service matters. The 20 working day target takes account of particular geographical circumstances. The target is the same whether replies are sent by Ministers or by the Director General

⁽³⁰⁾ Local office and "delegated" figures (where local officials have replied direct to MPs)

⁽³¹⁾ Excludes letters from MPs to Ministers where Agency chief executives have replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽³²⁾ Target reduced from 20 to 15 workings days on 1 April 2000

⁽³³⁾ Includes letters where the chief executive has replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽³⁴⁾ Includes 113 letters where the chief executive replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽³⁵⁾ Performance has improved under the new chief executive. Since September 2000, between 85 per cent. and 95 per cent. of all correspondence from MPs has been replied to within the 20 working day target

⁽³⁶⁾ Includes 18 letters where the chief executive replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽³⁷⁾ Includes 313 letters where the chief executive replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽³⁸⁾ Includes 309 letters where the chief executive replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽³⁹⁾ Includes eight letters where the chief executive replied on Ministers' behalf

⁽⁴⁰⁾ These figures cover the Wales Office's first year of existence and first full parliamentary session. This has been a difficult period. However, the Office has now reviewed its procedures and has introduced a new system for handling MPs' correspondence

Notes on 2000 figures:

The 1999 figures are taken from 17 April 2000, Official Report, columns 386-87W. Please also refer to the notes given with that reply. Departments and Agencies which received a total of between one and 10 letters from MPs during 2000 are not shown in this table

6 Apr 2001 : Column: 327W

HEALTH

Correspondence

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne, of 27 September, 24 October, 22 November and 22 December 2000 and 8 January 2001, relating to Mr. Dino Costas of Goffs Oak. [146896]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 23 January 2001]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 5 April 2001.

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will substantively reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of 27 September 2000, 24 October 2000, 22 November 2000, 22 December 2000 and 8 January and the written questions replied to on 23 January relating to Mr. Dino Costas of Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire. [151678]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 1 March 2001]: A reply to the hon. Member's letter was sent on 5 April 2001.

6 Apr 2001 : Column: 328W

I apologise for the unacceptable delay in replying to the hon. Member's correspondence and the previous parliamentary question. I know the Department's Permanent Secretary/Chief Executive of the National Health Service has written to the hon. Member apologising for the unacceptable delay involved in replying to her correspondence. The hon. Member's constituent raised a number of sensitive issues, which required a full investigation to ensure the information provided was correct, ensuring the constituent received a full explanation. This involved liaising with two different health authorities and a number of different sections within these health authorities.

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