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<p><strong>The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park):</strong></p><p>I regularly
stress to departments the importance of giving timely answers to Questions for Written
Answer. My office immediately approach departments who have not responded to questions
after 10 working days, and remain in contact with them until the questions are answered.
This process has been followed in both of the cases to which the noble Lord refers.</p><p>In
the case of the Ministry of Justice question, I am informed that the delay related
the process of transferring it to the right department for response. After discussion
it was transferred to the Cabinet Office, who will provide a substantive answer by
close of play this week. As regards the Department for Education questions, I am informed
that the delay related to gathering complex data spanning a long period and the need
to obtain clearance from across government. Both of the questions concerned have now
been answered.</p><p>Regarding timely replies more generally, I have recently written
to the three departments with the greatest proportion of late responses in the last
session and I regularly set out the House’s expectations as they apply to QWAs to
my frontbench team. Notwithstanding the cases referenced above, I am pleased to say
that the proportion of on-time responses from the Ministry of Justice rose from 74%
of questions in 2014-15 to 87% in 2015-16; while the Department for Education answered
well over 90% of questions on time in both sessions.</p>
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