An administrative error meant that the answer to this question was not tabled prior to restoration. Had it not been missed, the answer would have indicated that the response rates for the NI Departments are as listed in the following table.
This, however, would now be a matter for the Northern Ireland administration.
The information provided covers the period from 1 January 2005 as although the Freedom of Information Act received Royal Assent in 2000 it only came into force from 1 January 2005.
Department Requests received— 1 January 2005 to 30 September 20061 Number of resolvable requests2 Number granted in full Number granted in part Number withheld in full Agriculture and Rural Development 393 361 241 54 66 Culture, Arts and Leisure3 1,013 817 771 34 12 Education 272 231 193 25 13 Employment and Learning 183 163 131 23 9 Enterprise, Trade and Investment 161 133 95 21 17 Finance and Personnel 655 622 436 99 87 Health, Social Services and Public Safety 247 218 174 22 22 Environment 1,700 1,615 1,152 344 119 Regional Development 646 637 583 23 31 Social Development 295 261 213 29 19 Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister 157 139 124 13 2 1 Figures include requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. 2 Excludes requests on hold or lapsed, where information is not held or where the request was outstanding at time of reporting. 3 DCAL figures includes requests made to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
The Department for Constitutional Affairs published quarterly reports for Whitehall Department; statistics for the Northern Ireland Office are included in these. Figures for the first quarter of 2007 (1 January to 31 March) will be published in due course.
The following table covers figures relating to the performance of the Northern Ireland Office. The information supplied in relation to the Northern Ireland Office does not include information on the agencies. The agencies are not required to monitor statistics relating to Freedom of Information requests.
Department Requests received— 1 January 2005 to 31 December 20061 Number of resolvable requests2 Number granted in full Number granted in part Number withheld in full Northern Ireland Office 400 302 140 58 54 1 Figures include requests made under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. 2 Excludes requests on hold or lapsed, where information is not held or where the request was outstanding at time of reporting.