To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many parliamentary questions tabled to her Department were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006; which of those had been waiting longer than (a) two and (b) three weeks for a reply; and what the reason for the delay was in each case. (85206)

The available information is as follows.

As at 17 July, 13,280 parliamentary questions have been tabled this session on Department of Health matters. Some 573 were awaiting answer, of which 21 were outstanding for more than two weeks but less than three weeks, and 68 for more than three weeks. We aim to ensure that Members receive a substantive response to their named day question on the named day and endeavour to answer ordinary written questions within a working week of being tabled. Unfortunately, this is not always possible, but this Department makes every effort to achieve these time scales.