Correspondence

Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acknowledgement letters and cards were dispatched by his Department in each year since 1997, for which figures are available: and what the estimated average cost was per letter and card. [111868]

Mr. Lammy
Figures for 1997 are not available.Between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2002, 84,715 acknowledgements were sent.Costs were minimal, with replies generated electronically and most sent to hon. Members by internal courier.