Question about answer, reply,take care ...

[JJD]

Hi everyone. I'm a new member from Tokyo. My TOIEC score is 890.
Here is my first question...
Situation: I got a technical question from our customer Mr. Richard by email. Because I'm not in the right position, I want to ask(by email) my colleague to reply it. What is the best sentence to ask my colleague to reply the question?
My thoughts are as follows.
1. Could you answer the question from Mr. Richard?
2. Could you take care of the question from Mr. Richard?
3. Could you reply the question from Mr. Richard?
4. Could you work on this issue?
5. Could you follow this issue?
6. Could you handle this issue?
My colleague may reply "We will study and come back later".
Can you call it an answer?
I think it is a reply but not an answer.
In this sense I don't want to use No.1 because I don't want to push my colleague to provide exact answer. I think it's up to my colleague for the quality of the reply. Do you think my concern about "answer" makes sense?

[RonBee]

The first one is the best. It's better than all the rest.

(Say reply to.)

[Jamgirl]

It would be better to say:

'Could you answer Mr Richard's question please?'

[JJD]

Thank you for the comments.

To Ron Bee:
"We will study and come back later."
I think this may be an answer.
I also think he replyed to the email but didn't answer the question.
Can I say that the definition of the "answer" depends on where the focus of the communication is?

To Jamgirl:
I don't quite understand the difference beteween "---'s question" and "question from ---". Could you explain some more?

[Tdol]

I don't like the answer. How about this:
We will look into it and get back to you.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by Tdol

I don't like the answer. How about this:
We will look into it and get back to you.

That's better.

[JJD]

Thanks.

Then, If I don't want to push my colleague, can I say as follows?
1. Could you look into the question from Mr. xxx?
2. Could you look into the email from Mr. xxx?
Can I expect that my colleague will reply to Mr. xxx by above requests?

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by JJD

Thanks.

Then, If I don't want to push my colleague, can I say as follows?
1. Could you look into the question from Mr. xxx?
2. Could you look into the email from Mr. xxx?
Can I expect that my colleague will reply to Mr. xxx by above requests?

I'm afraid not. You answer a question. You don't look into it. How about:

Would you mind answering the question from Mr. X?

[JJD]

Thanks.

I understand that "answer" is the best word if I want my collegue to send reply email to Mr.X.

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by JJD

Thanks.

I understand that "answer" is the best word if I want my collegue to send reply email to Mr.X.

Yes, it probably is. (Say: "reply to Mr. X's email")