asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 9 October (WA 101), whether they will now answer the original Question asked by the Lord Jopling (HL7082).[HL7619]
I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in Hansard of 9 October at col. WA 101. In addition, I refer the noble Lord to my reply to his Question (HL 8083) which I have answered today. In it, I confirm that:
“The delay in answering their noble Lordships’ Questions is very much regretted. It was caused by pressure of work in the relevant area of the department. The Permanent Secretary has reminded those concerned of the importance of adhering to the established timescale for responding to Parliamentary Questions.
The Home Secretary has recognised that the department’s performance in answering PQs has not been acceptable. In response, he has instructed both the Permanent Secretary and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for PolicingCrime and Community Safety to review the current PQdelivery mechanisms. In addition to that, he has identifiedthe department’s obligations to Parliament as one of the performance measures that should result from his plan to reform the Home Office”.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the reason for the delay of 19 weeks by the Home Office in answering the two Questions for Written Answer by the Lord Lester of Herne Hill tabled on 5 June, when the target time for answer is two weeks.[HL7726]
I refer the noble Lord to the Answers given to the Lord Lester of Herne Hill on the 8 November (HL6054) and (HL6055).
The Home Secretary has written both to the Speaker and the Leader of the House outlining his concern over the often delayed response to answering Parliamentary Questions. This concern should be viewed in the context of the 11,000 plus Questions that my department has received over the course of the Session. On one particular day, it received approximately 160 Questions.
The Home Secretary has instructed both the Permanent Secretary and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Policing Crime and Community Safety (Tony McNulty) to review the current PQ delivery mechanisms. In addition to this, he has identified the department's obligations to Parliament as one of the performance measures that should result from the Home Secretary's plan to reform the Home Office. The improvements will not happen overnight but I am reassured that considerable effort has occurred throughout the Summer Recess to reduce the backlog of unanswered Questions. This work remains ongoing although I am pleased to reassure you that for the months of July, August and September the department answered 1,245 Questions with more than 70 per cent answered within agreed timescales.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of the two-week target time for answering Questions for Written Answer, when the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Permanent Secretary were informed of the failure to reply to the Lord Lester of Herne Hill’s two Questions tabled on 5 June (HL6054) and (HL6055), which remain unanswered after 21 weeks; and, if they have not been informed, what is the most senior level of Minister or official who have had the failure to reply drawn to their attention.[HL8083]
The delay in answering their noble Lordships’ Questions is very much regretted. It was caused by pressure of work in the relevant area of the department. The Permanent Secretary has reminded those concerned of the importance of adhering to the established timescale for responding to Parliamentary Questions.
The Home Secretary has recognised that the department’s performance in answering PQs has not been acceptable. In response, he has instructed both the Permanent Secretary and my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Policing Crime and Community Safety to review the current PQ delivery mechanisms. In addition to that, he has identified the department’s obligations to Parliament as one of the performance measures that should result from his plan to reform the Home Office.