To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) letters and (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008. (244718)

The information is as follows:

(a) The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/peers correspondence. Information relating to 2008 will be published as soon as it has been collated.

(b) In respect of e-mails, this could be answered only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letters dated 10 July 2008 and 13 August 2008 from the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banff and Buchan on fuel costs and farming industry; and what the reasons are for the time taken to reply. (245911)

It is understood that this relates to correspondence from Stewart Stevenson MSP. Receipt of the correspondence could not be traced and a copy, dated 9 June, was obtained. A reply was sent on 6 January.