Yes Minister1980

James Hacker:
When am I going to do all this correspondence?

Bernard Woolley:
You do realize you don't actually have to, Minister.

James Hacker:
Don't I?

Bernard Woolley:
Not if you don't want to. We can draft an official reply.

James Hacker:
What's an official reply?

Bernard Woolley:
It just says "The Minister has asked me to thank you for your letter"; then we say something like "The matter is under consideration", or even, if we feel so inclined, "under active consideration."

James Hacker:
What's the difference?

Bernard Woolley:
Well, 'under consideration' means we've lost the file; 'under active consideration' means we're trying to find it.