House of Commons Hansard Written Ministerial Statements for 20 May 2004 (pt 2)

CABINET OFFICE

Regulatory Impact Assessments

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Douglas Alexander): The Government is committed to ensuring that regulations are necessary, give effective protection, balance cost and risk, are fair and command public confidence. In accordance with this, we require Departments to produce and publish regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) for all regulatory proposals likely to have an impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies.

I have today presented to Parliament a Command Paper listing RIAs published between 1 July and 31 December 2003. Copies of those RIAs listed are available in the Library. This is the twentieth such Command Paper.

Correspondence

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. Douglas Alexander): I am today publishing a report on Departments' and Agencies' performance on handling Members' and Peers' correspondence for 2003. Details are shown in the table. Departmental figures are based on substantive replies unless otherwise indicated.

The footnotes on the table provide general background information on how the figures have been compiled.
Correspondence from MPs/Peers to Ministers and agency chief executives⁽¹⁾

2002 2003

Department or Agency Target setfor reply(workingdays) Numberof lettersreceived % of replies within target Target setfor reply(workingdays) Numberof lettersreceived % of replieswithin target

Cabinet Office 15 475 73 15 443 90

Department for Constitutional Affairs⁽²⁾ 20 2,577 54 20 2,746 49

      Court Service 20 230 84 15 464 95

15* 593 78 — — —

      HM Land Registry 20 32 100 20 48 96

      National Archives⁽³⁾ 15 166 98 15 30 90

10** 61 98 10** 34 100

      Public Guardianship Office 15 261 31 15 95 88

*      Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.

**   Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.

Crown Prosecution Service 15 366 85 15 298 88

Department for Culture, Media and Sport 18 4,767 83 18 5,460 85

HM Customs and Excise⁽⁴⁾ 18 1,616 59 18 2,040 62

Ministry of Defence⁽⁴⁾ 15 5,381 83 15 5,565 76

      Armed Forces Personnel 15 18 100 15 93 98

      Administration Agency Army Personnel Centre — — — 15 16 94

      Defence Aviation Repair Agency 10 14 100 — — —

      Defence Estates — — — 15 24 88

      Defence Housing Executive — — — 15 14 79

      Met Office 15 14 100 — — —

      UK Hydrographic Office — — — 15 14 100

      Veterans Agency 15 265 99 15 251 94

Department for Education and Skills⁽⁴⁾ 15 15,595 84 15 14,424 92

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 15 11,241 47 15 10,410 68

Food Standards Agency⁽⁵⁾ — — — 20 981 13

Foreign and Commonwealth Office 20 15,535 83 20 30,168 80

      UK Visas⁽⁶⁾ 15 10,322 98 15 16,964 86

Department of Health⁽⁷⁾ 20 17,942 29 20 19,029 54

      NHS Pensions Agency 15 65 95 10 63 84

      Medicines Control Agency 15 36 89 — — —

      Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory

      Agency — — — 10 26 85

Home Office⁽⁸⁾

*   Non Prison Service correspondence**   Prison Service correspondence 1520 26,0531,267*** 35 15(20 daysfor IND) 37,153 58

Criminal Records Bureau⁽⁹⁾ 5 632 N/A 10 461 92

HM Prison Service 20 942 77 20 1,437 65

UK Passport Service 10 132 97 10 337 79

Inland Revenue4, 10 18 3,157 71 18 2,803 81

*      Local Tax Office delegated figures (where local tax offices have replied to direct to MPs) 18 439* 80 18 1,795* 35

      Valuation Office⁽⁴⁾ 18 20 75 18 13 77

Department for International Development 15 2,612 96 15 3,676 88

Lord President of the Council and Leader of the       House of Lord's Office 15 155 96 15 43 88

Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers 15 378 63 15 325 65

Northern Ireland Office 10 501 59 10 503 69

      Northern Ireland Prison Service 10 33 91 10 44 68

National Savings and Investments⁽⁴⁾ 15 44 66 15 24 70

National Statistics⁽⁴⁾ 20 212 82 15 193 84

*      Letters where National Statistician replied on Minister's behalf 10 104* 84

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 15 5,523 76 15 8,737 73

      Planning Inspectorate 8 291 90 8 384 89

Office of the Leader of the House of Commons 15 488 95 15 385 96

Scotland Office 15 115 73 15 73 87

Department for Trade and Industry⁽¹⁾ 10 11,565 41 15 14,678 58

      Companies House* 10 45 100 10 33 100

      Employment Tribunals Service** 6 46 93 — — —

      Insolvency Service 10 398 96 10 34 88

      Patent Office 10 367 98 10 484 98

      Radiocommunication Agency⁽¹⁾ 10 44 89 — — —

      Small Business Service*** — — — — — —

*         Letters sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.

**      Target date for letters sent direct to Agency =15 working days.

***   Figures included in main DTI return.

Department of Transport, Local Government and       the Regions 15 7,671 83 — — —

Department for Transport 15 6,505 84 15 10,196 88

      Driving Standards Agency 15 56 98 15 108 90

      DVLA 10 729 99 7 1,028 99

      Highways Agency 15 273 96 15 263 85

      Maritime and Coastguard Agency 15 27 100 10 33 97

      Vehicle Inspectorate 15 27 100 — — —

      Vehicle and Operator Services Agency — — — 15 25 92

HM Treasury⁽⁴⁾ 15 4,647 78 15 4,036 83

Treasury Solicitor's Department 10 26 100 10 34 100

Wales Office 15 118 97 15 120 82

Department for Work and Pensions 20 14,297 65 20 12,157 74

      Appeals Service 15 52 88 15 84 88

      Benefits Agency 20 504 87 — — —

      Child Support Agency 20 3,194 51 20 3,521 87

      Employment Service 15 72 95 — — —

      Jobcentre Plus 15 1,103 57 15 1,052 69

      The Pension Service 15 511 71 15 1,157 50

      Disability and Carers Service 15 749 100 15 554 99

      Debt Management 15 30 86 15 31 85

      Child Benefit Centre⁽¹⁾ 20 20 95 20 11 91

      Health and Safety Executive — — — 10 195 91

⁽¹⁾   Departments and Agencies which received 10 MPs/Peers letters or less during 2003 are not shown in this table. Holding or interim replies are not included unless otherwise indicated.
⁽²⁾ ²    DCA is currently undertaking changes to its processes for handling correspondence. In the short term these have lead to delays in response time, but in the longer term will improve the quality of responses. These changes include quality control of all responses, and revising the DCA correspondence monitoring system.
⁽³⁾ ³    Formerly the Public Record Office.
⁽⁴⁾ ⁴    Includes all Ministerial correspondence.
⁽⁵⁾ ⁵    The statistics for the FSA are dominated by a single lobbying campaign which accounted for almost 70% of its total annual correspondence. The Agency is reviewing its procedures for handling peaks of work arising from such a campaign. Majority of replies are signed by Health Ministers.
⁽⁶⁾ ⁶    2003 figures also include a small number of letters from members of the public.
⁽⁷⁾ ⁷    Department of Health improved its performance to just under 70% in the last quarter of 2003.
⁽⁸⁾ ⁸    Figures include a small number of interim replies relating to correspondence sent to HM Prison Service. 2003 performance figures also include 16,268 cases answered directly by the Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Response times to these cases relate to drafting performance only. Figures based on final replies will be available for 2004. Immigration and Nationality Directorate response target was increased to 20 working days with effect from 1 April 2003 to account for the wide geographical spread of offices and the nature of the correspondence which is predominantly about specific cases rather than policy issues.
⁽⁹⁾ ⁹    The CRB target was raised from 5 to 10 working days at the beginning of 2003 to reflect the standard set out in the CRB's Corporate Plan.
⁽¹⁰⁾ ¹ ⁰ Performance suffered due to the exceptionally high volume of correspondence following the introduction of the Working and Child Tax Credits in April 2003 and because, early in 2003–04, the Revenue's priority was to get claimants into payment. Since the processing of tax credits claims has been stable, the Revenue has restored normal complaints-handling procedures and increased the resources on its complaints teams. As a result, performance should begin to improve.
⁽¹¹⁾ ¹ ¹ DTI increased its response target from 10 to 15 working days with effect from 1 January in line with other main Whitehall departments.
⁽¹²⁾ ¹ ² 2003 data currently not available because of transfer to OFCOM.
⁽¹³⁾ ¹ ³ The Child Benefit Centre transferred to the Inland Revenue with effect from 1 April 2003. Figures quoted are for the period 1/1/03 to 31/3/03.

20 May 2004 : Column 67WS

	2002				2003
Department or Agency	Target setfor reply(workingdays)	Numberof lettersreceived	% of replies within target	Target setfor reply(workingdays)	Numberof lettersreceived	% of replieswithin target
Cabinet Office	15	475	73	15	443	90
Department for Constitutional Affairs⁽²⁾	20	2,577	54	20	2,746	49
Court Service	20	230	84	15	464	95
	15*	593	78	—	—	—
HM Land Registry	20	32	100	20	48	96
National Archives⁽³⁾	15	166	98	15	30	90
	10**	61	98	10**	34	100
Public Guardianship Office	15	261	31	15	95	88
* Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.
** Target for correspondence sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.
Crown Prosecution Service	15	366	85	15	298	88
Department for Culture, Media and Sport	18	4,767	83	18	5,460	85
HM Customs and Excise⁽⁴⁾	18	1,616	59	18	2,040	62
Ministry of Defence⁽⁴⁾	15	5,381	83	15	5,565	76
Armed Forces Personnel	15	18	100	15	93	98
Administration Agency Army Personnel Centre	—	—	—	15	16	94
Defence Aviation Repair Agency	10	14	100	—	—	—
Defence Estates	—	—	—	15	24	88
Defence Housing Executive	—	—	—	15	14	79
Met Office	15	14	100	—	—	—
UK Hydrographic Office	—	—	—	15	14	100
Veterans Agency	15	265	99	15	251	94
Department for Education and Skills⁽⁴⁾	15	15,595	84	15	14,424	92
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs	15	11,241	47	15	10,410	68
Food Standards Agency⁽⁵⁾	—	—	—	20	981	13
Foreign and Commonwealth Office	20	15,535	83	20	30,168	80
UK Visas⁽⁶⁾	15	10,322	98	15	16,964	86
Department of Health⁽⁷⁾	20	17,942	29	20	19,029	54
NHS Pensions Agency	15	65	95	10	63	84
Medicines Control Agency	15	36	89	—	—	—
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
Agency	—	—	—	10	26	85
Home Office⁽⁸⁾
* Non Prison Service correspondence** Prison Service correspondence	1520	26,0531,267***	35	15(20 daysfor IND)	37,153	58
Criminal Records Bureau⁽⁹⁾	5	632	N/A	10	461	92
HM Prison Service	20	942	77	20	1,437	65
UK Passport Service	10	132	97	10	337	79
Inland Revenue4, 10	18	3,157	71	18	2,803	81
* Local Tax Office delegated figures (where local tax offices have replied to direct to MPs)	18	439*	80	18	1,795*	35
Valuation Office⁽⁴⁾	18	20	75	18	13	77
Department for International Development	15	2,612	96	15	3,676	88
Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Lord's Office	15	155	96	15	43	88
Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers	15	378	63	15	325	65
Northern Ireland Office	10	501	59	10	503	69
Northern Ireland Prison Service	10	33	91	10	44	68
National Savings and Investments⁽⁴⁾	15	44	66	15	24	70
National Statistics⁽⁴⁾	20	212	82	15	193	84
* Letters where National Statistician replied on Minister's behalf				10	104*	84
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	15	5,523	76	15	8,737	73
Planning Inspectorate	8	291	90	8	384	89
Office of the Leader of the House of Commons	15	488	95	15	385	96
Scotland Office	15	115	73	15	73	87
Department for Trade and Industry⁽¹⁾	10	11,565	41	15	14,678	58
Companies House*	10	45	100	10	33	100
Employment Tribunals Service**	6	46	93	—	—	—
Insolvency Service	10	398	96	10	34	88
Patent Office	10	367	98	10	484	98
Radiocommunication Agency⁽¹⁾	10	44	89	—	—	—
Small Business Service***	—	—	—	—	—	—
* Letters sent direct to Agency Chief Executive.
** Target date for letters sent direct to Agency =15 working days.
*** Figures included in main DTI return.
Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions	15	7,671	83	—	—	—
Department for Transport	15	6,505	84	15	10,196	88
Driving Standards Agency	15	56	98	15	108	90
DVLA	10	729	99	7	1,028	99
Highways Agency	15	273	96	15	263	85
Maritime and Coastguard Agency	15	27	100	10	33	97
Vehicle Inspectorate	15	27	100	—	—	—
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency	—	—	—	15	25	92
HM Treasury⁽⁴⁾	15	4,647	78	15	4,036	83
Treasury Solicitor's Department	10	26	100	10	34	100
Wales Office	15	118	97	15	120	82
Department for Work and Pensions	20	14,297	65	20	12,157	74
Appeals Service	15	52	88	15	84	88
Benefits Agency	20	504	87	—	—	—
Child Support Agency	20	3,194	51	20	3,521	87
Employment Service	15	72	95	—	—	—
Jobcentre Plus	15	1,103	57	15	1,052	69
The Pension Service	15	511	71	15	1,157	50
Disability and Carers Service	15	749	100	15	554	99
Debt Management	15	30	86	15	31	85
Child Benefit Centre⁽¹⁾	20	20	95	20	11	91
Health and Safety Executive	—	—	—	10	195	91