To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions since May 2002 Ministers in his Department have passed (a) hon. Members' letters and (b) hon. Members' questions to agencies for response; and what percentage of the total number of letters and questions received this represents. [121821]

Between the period of 29 May 2002 to 27 June 2003, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received (a) 10,060 letters from hon. Members of which 89 were transferred to executive agencies for response; and (b) 3,692 parliamentary questions of which 11 were transferred to executive agencies. In both cases this represents less than I per cent. of all correspondence and parliamentary questions received.