HC Deb 24 February 1958 vol 583 cc14-5
27. Mr. Delargy

asked the Minister of Health why a letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 11th November, 1957, was not answered until 20th January, 1958.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Inquiries had to be made from the hospital authorities and medical practitioners concerned, and these could not be started until I had received certain additional information from the hon. Member on 5th December.

Mr. Delargy

Will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that it is quite a long interval between 5th December and 20th January? Would it not have been more helpful and more courteous to have given me the explanation in the letter I received so belatedly from the Parliamentary Secretary on 20th January?

Mr. Walker-Smith

Both my hon. Friend and I have written to the hon. Gentleman to give a full explanation of these matters and to convey our regret for any delay. If the hon. Member now talks about the length of time, I must remind him, first, that it was necessary for the regional hospital board acting, through the hospital management committee, to make various inquiries, and also to arrange an interview with the general practitioner, and secondly, that we could have got this time shortened—I am sorry to have to mention this—if it had not been necessary for me to write to the hon. Gentleman on 19th November asking him to send some necessary information, and to send him a reminder on 3rd December.

Mr. Delargy

The interval between 3rd December and 20th January is, I repeat, quite a long time. If the right hon. and learned Gentleman has apologised to me in private, as he has in his letter, why does he not have the decency to apologise to me now in public?

Mr. Walker-Smith

If the hon. Gentleman is so touchy about this, I will certainly apologise to him for any delay which may have been caused by the Ministry. In order to make this feast of courtesy complete, perhaps he would be good enough to apologise to me for the delay of a fortnight which he caused?

Mr. Delargy

May I apologise for the delay of one week, since the Minister has apologised for a delay of ten?