To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of written parliamentary questions received by his Department in 2001–02 were not answered substantively within (a) two weeks, (b) one month and (c) three months; and if he will make a statement. [93445]

Treasury Ministers attach importance to answering parliamentary questions promptly. In the 2001–02 session, 4,618 of the 5,888 written questions to the Treasury (78.4 per cent.) received substantive replies on or before the due date for answering. 111 (1.9 per cent. of the total) had not been answered within two weeks, 57 (1.0 per cent.) within one month and 43 (0.7 per cent.) within three months. In the 2002[en rule]03 session to date, 76.7 per cent. of all written questions have been answered on time.

Number of applications for Attendance Allowance received, successful and unsuccessful each quarter from September 2000
	Received	Successful	Unsuccessful
September—November 2000	101,715	78,680	25,415
December 2000—February 2001	90,745	66,130	21,380
March—May 2001	103,190	77,405	24,720
June—August 2001	102,050	75,870	23,525
September—November 2001	97,470	76,395	23,110
December 2001—February 2002	87,690	68,290	20,470
March—May 2002	107,395	79,740	22,560
June—August 2002	96,870	74,365	21,595
September—November 2002	99,905	80,745	23,185

The figures for successful and unsuccessful claims relate to the decisions given during that period and will not necessarily equate to the number of claims received during the period.Further data regarding appeals is not available at this time.

Actual average clearance times AACT (in working days) for normal rules (NR) claims, reconsiderations and appeals (Attendance Allowance) April 2000 to December 2002
AACT
Total quarter Date		NR claims	Reconsiderations	Appeals
2000–01
1	April-June 2000	36.1	58.7	68.8
2	July-September 2000	31.8	50.0	69.7
3	October-December 2000	26.4	44.6	55.7
4	January-March 2001	26.7	40.1	47.9
2001–02
1	January-March 2001	26.0	35.0	38.9
2	July-September 2001	27.9	36.8	36.1
3	October-December 2001	28.9	36.9	36.8
4	January-March 2002	25.4	36.5	34.2
2002
1	April-June 2002	24.6	34.1	33.4
2	April-June 2002	26.6	32.8	32.2
3	October-December 2002	24.1	32.2	31.8