§ 37. Mr. Shortasked 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. AmoryI 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. ShortDoes 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?