§ Q2. Mr. Higginsasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that Ministers do not fail to give an oral answer to an oral Question by stating that they will write to the Member concerned, and that when an adequate oral answer cannot be given, because of its length, a full reply will be placed on the letter board the same day.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)Sir, I should like to meet what the hon. Gentleman has in mind, but I do not think that his suggestions are practicable.
§ Mr. HigginsWould not the Prime Minister agree that on an occasion when I recently questioned the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance I received a very unsatisfactory Answer? The reply which she sent me was lengthy, but it could have been summarised. Would not the Prime Minister further agree that it is difficult for those covered by that Question, namely, old age non-pensioners, to 599 avoid the impression that the Government are deliberately trying to ignore their problems? Would the Prime Minister do something in regard to my hon. Friend's Bill—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Perhaps the Prime Minister had better answer what has been asked up to now.
§ The Prime MinisterI think our record is the answer to the impression the hon. Gentleman spoke about. I recognise the problem about Parliamentary Questions. I know about the case he has mentioned. My right hon. Friend sent him a three-page foolscap letter and it would be rather difficult to put all of that in HANSARD. I would be very happy to arrange, through the usual channels, for discussions to be held to see if we can meet this problem or for the matter to be considered by the Select Committee on Procedure. I do not think that the hon. Gentleman's suggestions are the way to deal with it.