§ 73. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what date he received a letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning matters affecting Mr. L. J. Crickmar's claims; on what date he first communicated with the Governor of Kenya relative to this matter; on what date he received a reply from the Governor to this communication; on what date he sent a further communication to the Governor, and the date of this reply; and when he expect to receive information from the Governor of Kenya enabling him to resolve this matter.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. John Profumo)The significant dates are as follows. My right hon. Friend received the hon. Member's letter on 11th March. After the matter had been investigated in the Department, he communicated with the Governor of Kenya on 22nd March and again on the 17th May. My right hon. Friend has now received a reply from the Governor on the basis of which he is writing to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. LewisIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is a bit too much to expect an hon. Member's constituents to have to wait from 11th March to 22nd May—even now the hon. Member has not received any definite reply, except a formal acknowledgment—and certainly it is his opinion that he would not have received anything at all if he had not put this Question? Will the hon. Gentleman see to it that the Governor of Kenya and other Governors, if it is their fault, send back a reply in less time than just on three months when a case like this is raised?
§ Mr. ProfumoIt is certainly due to no fault of the Governor of Kenya. I think the hon. Member would wish all the matters he raised—no matter how apparently simple they are—to be investigated fully by my right hon. Friend in the Department before local Government, which of course have a great deal of detailed work on their shoulders, are consulted. I think that when he gets the letter he will see that it has required a considerable amount of work and my right hon. Friend wants to give him a thought-out answer.