HC Deb 09 December 1958 vol 597 c199
37. Mr. Short

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the hon. Member for Central Newcastle-upon-Tyne had to wait until 4th December for a reply to his letter dated 13th November on behalf of the Northumberland and Durham Cycle Traders' Association.

Mr. Amory

I fear that the large number of letters which my Treasury colleagues and I receive sometimes imposes a little delay, but I do not think the delay in this case was unreasonable.

Mr. Short

Does the Chancellor realise that if it takes as long as this to get an answer to a letter of this kind, that leads hon. Members to expect a more encouraging reply than the one received? Does not he think it a bit thick to have to wait for three weeks to be told that he will bear the matter in mind?

Mr. Amery

On many matters I cannot be as forthcoming as I should like to be.