To ask the Leader of the House, further to her Written Answer on 4 March (WA 169-70), whether she will ascertain what the constraints were which delayed the answer to Lord Corbett of Castle Vale’s Question for Written Answer tabled on 3 December 2008 until 3 March (WA 140-41) and that of Lord Hylton tabled on 8 December 2008 until 11 February (WA 196).

My Lords, I owe the House an apology. The reply to the Question for Written Answer asked by the noble Lord, Lord Corbett of Castle Vale, was delayed due to the time taken to identify the document in question, to confirm that it constituted an official document, to check whether it amounted to confidential advice to Ministers and to ensure that all concerned were content with the response. The reply to the Question for Written Answer asked by the noble Lord, Lord Hylton, was delayed due to difficulties with the distribution and submission of Written Parliamentary Questions, following the introduction of a new IT system in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office used for the drafting and dispatch of Written Parliamentary Questions.

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. Is she aware that it gives me great pleasure that, by tabling this Question, I have been able to support her efforts to persuade her colleagues to answer Written Questions in a more timely fashion? The number outstanding for more than 14 days has now fallen to 40 or so, as opposed to well over 100, and we are all grateful to the noble Baroness for that. But could she say why it was that when I asked the Question earlier as a Written Question, Ministers simply brushed it aside and ignored it? It is long overdue that Ministers more often are given answers rather than just replies to pass on to those who ask Written Questions in this House.

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord and to other noble Lords in this House who help to keep me and my colleagues up to the mark. It is useful to have assiduous colleagues, such as the noble Lord, snapping at our heels, if I might put it like that. Answers to Questions often do not answer the question properly; as the noble Lord says, they are replies rather than answers. Quite often we send the replies back, asking for answers. I think we should be even more assiduous and do more of that in future.

My Lords, I associate myself with the compliment from the noble Lord, Lord Tebbit, but can I ask the Lord President to clarify another matter? When I first started working in Whitehall, betting and gaming was the responsibility of the Home Office. It was then moved to DCMS. When I want to ask questions or get advice on long-odds betting, is it now better to go to the DCMS or to the noble Lord, Lord West, in the Home Office?

My Lords, I would not bet on that.

My Lords, did the noble Baroness say that part of the reason for the delay was that a new piece of IT equipment had been introduced? What is the length of the extra delay that this machinery has caused, and what was the cost of it?

My Lords, I do not have the cost of that piece of equipment. Initially, there were problems because of the introduction of a new IT system, but they have been resolved. I think noble Lords will find that the Foreign Office has stepped up to the mark and Questions are now being answered in the appropriate amount of time.