Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time was for Ministers of her Department to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in each month in the last two years.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Department has a target of responding within 20 working days where a response is required.

As you will understand, the Department is currently dealing with unprecedented volumes of correspondence due to COVID-19. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised, and is taking steps to provide substantive responses in as short a time as possible.

All correspondence received from hon. Members is being reviewed and will be responded to as soon as possible.