2.2 Services to the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretary

During 2007–08, the Department provided extensive support services to the Ministers and the Parliamentary Secretary. These included the preparation of Ministerial correspondence, Question Time Briefs, answers to Parliamentary Questions on Notice and Ministerial requests for briefing.

The Department reports on the support services provided to the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretary through the following whole-of-department performance indicator.

Indicator	Efficient provision of quality ministerial and parliamentary documents.
Measured by:	The number of items prepared and the percentage provided within agreed timeframes.
Reference Point/Target:	27,000–32,000 items of Ministerial correspondence processed. 2,500–2,800 Question Time Briefs prepared. 150–250 Parliamentary Questions on Notice answered. 1,200–1,600 Ministerial requests for briefing. Percentage of documents prepared within agreed timeframes.

Ministerial Correspondence

• Number processed: 35,879 (including 4,272 campaign items for information)
• Number requiring a response: 20,587
• Number of responses completed on time: 17,269
• Percentage completed on time: 84%

Question Time Briefs

• Number completed (new/updated): 2,930
• Number completed on time: 2,930
• Percentage completed on time: 100%

Parliamentary Questions on Notice

• Number completed: 108
• Number completed on time: 52
• Percentage completed on time: 48%

  The Department received fewer Parliamentary Questions on Notice than in recent years, most likely as a result of the Federal Election in November 2007.

Ministerial Requests for Briefing

• Number completed: 1,310
• Number completed on time: 1,069
• Percentage completed on time: 82%