Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to the British Transport Police on the timescales for responding to correspondence from Members of Parliament.

The Department does not issue guidance to the British Transport Police (BTP) on the timescales for responding to correspondence from Members of Parliament. However, the Department understands that the BTP aims to acknowledge receipt of correspondence from MPs, that are received in the Chief Constable’s office, within 2 days and to provide a formal response within 2 weeks of receipt.

I understand that this deadline was not met in relation to a recent piece of correspondence from the Hon Member. I am assured by the BTP that this oversight was exceptional and that steps have been put in place to ensure the correspondence from all Members of Parliament will be dealt with promptly.