[snogglethorpe]

My well that's kind of disturbing... not that they do such correlations (everybody does), but that typewriting/handwriting are considered "eccentric" to the point where they don't even read the letters.... [I mean... if they actually read them, surely a good argument and moderate tone would outweigh any initial judgement from slightly non-mainstream presentation?]

So if you want them to read your letter, you'd better write it in Microsoft word, using Arial, at medium size, without any formatting, and print it out on an inkjet printer on A4 paper?

[And sorry for the snarky/argumentative tone, it's obviously not your fault and you can't do anything about it, but it really is disturbing...]

[tehwalrus]

No, no...

They do read all the letters (at least, the researcher does.) It is only the first signal.

A handwritten letter isn't in itself an indicator - someone may simply have not had much time - if the writing is difficult to read, or if it's several pages long, then we're into danger territory.

Generally the MPs first see their mail alongside their researchers' draft responses to them. They do need to know what they wrote back to everyone so that if they meet the constituent at a Surgery they will know what they're talking about.