Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how often her Department reviews its processes regarding the logging of emails, letters and other correspondence received; and if she will make a statement.

The Department for Education’s process for logging and allocating email and hard copy correspondence has been subjected to ongoing review and improvement over the last four years. A detailed process review was completed recently and more efficient arrangements put in place as part of preparations for the introduction of a new IT system. That system is due to be implemented over the next few months.

The Department aims to respond to all correspondence within 15 working days. Cabinet Office guidance on handling correspondence from Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, MEPs and Members of devolved administrations is available online at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/61196/guide-handling-gov-correspondence.pdf