In 2014 the Treasury replied to less than half of letters from MPs
Report shows some departments falling seriously behind on communication
Today the government has published a report showing how each department performed in responding to correspondence from MPs and Peers in 2014.
Some of the numbers are shocking, with the worst offenders being:
The Department for Communities and Local Government, which replied to just 42 per cent of 8,574 letters within the target time of 10 working days
The Treasury, which replied to just 52 per cent of 8,242 letters within the target time of 15 working days
The Ministry of Justice, which replied to just 64 per cent of 3,419 letters within the target time of 15 working days.
MPs and Peers may write to government departments to express concerns raised in the community, or on behalf of constituents who want to raise a complaint or give feedback. The fact that so many of these letters go ignored does not suggest a great deal of community engagement.
Nor does it bode well for transparency and accuracy, as this kind of correspondence is vital for ensuring MPs have access to up-to-date departmental figures and information.
But others did an impressive job in responding to huge volumes of letters:
The Department of Health managed to reply to 97 per cent of 17,932 letters within 18 days.
The Department of Work and Pensions replied to 83 per cent of 16,542 letters in 20 days.
And the Foreign and Commonwealth Office replied to 88 per cent of 11,649 letters within 20 days.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter
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