asked the Attorney-General if he will indicate the average time taken by his Department and the Lord Chancellor's Department, respectively, to provide a substantive answer to letters from hon. or right hon. Members during the 12 months period to the latest available date.

Neither my Department nor the Lord Chancellor's Department is able to provide the information requested save at disproportionate cost. However, the tables following show the average time taken to send a substantive reply to letters received from hon. and right hon. Members during February and March 1985.