§ Mr. Steen
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many officials he employed(a) full time and (b) part time in his Department in each of the last three years to answer letters sent to him from hon. Members; and what was the estimated overall cost of replying to them in each of the last three years. 
§ Mr. Willetts
This answer covers the offices of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister.
No officials are employed solely to answer letters from hon. Members. Advice is provided to Ministers by the appropriate divisions. Costs are subsumed in the overall costs of the divisions.