To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) letters and (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008. (244706)

The Whitehall standard target for the Department is to ensure that at least 90 per cent. of all ministerial and public correspondence receives a quality response within 20 working days.

As at the 15 December, the Department had 1,438 letters awaiting a response. Of these, 34 letters have missed the Whitehall standard target.

The Department had 848 emails awaiting response. Of these, 37 emails have missed the Whitehall standard target.