asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many House of Lords Questions for Written Answer were received by each department in the last parliamentary Session; and [HL3085]

How many House of Lords Questions for Written Answer were received by each department in the 1996-97 parliamentary Session; and [HL3086]

How many House of Lords Questions for Written Answer were not answered within 14 days in each of the last five parliamentary Sessions; and [HL3088]

How many House of Lords Questions for Written Answer remained unanswered at the end of the last parliamentary Session; and [HL3089]

How many House of Lords Questions for Written Answer in the last parliamentary Session were answered at greater cost than the disproportionate cost threshold, and what were those Questions. [HL3090]

A total of 5,702 Questions for Written Answer were tabled to Her Majesty's Government in the last parliamentary Session. Of these, 4,107 were answered within the 14-day deadline. The total number of Questions for Written Answer that remained unanswered at the end of the Session was 25.

The total number of Questions for Written Answer in the 1996-97 parliamentary Session was 1,247.

Information concerning Questions for Written Answer in earlier parliamentary Sessions is not available in the form requested. Departments do not maintain records on whether Questions were answered at greater cost than the disproportionate cost threshold.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 29 March 2006 (WA 112), how they define “disproportionate effort”; and how this differs from their definition of “disproportionate cost”. [HL3087]

The definition of disproportionate effort is the same as disproportionate cost; to answer the Question would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold. This was £600 when this Question was answered in 2006 and is currently £700.