HC Deb 08 November 1966 vol 735 cc1144-6
Q3. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the Prime Minister what directions he has given to Ministers relating to correspondence with their political supporters on official matters concerning their Departments in the constituencies of hon. Members, and as to informing hon. Members about such correspondence.

The Prime Minister

None, Sir, and I doubt whether hon. Members generally would welcome being sent copies of each and every letter sent by a Minister to a member of the public who happened to live in their constituencies, even if the expense could be justified.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware—I think he is—that the Minister of Defence for the Army has been corresponding with the leader of the Labour Party on Kingston Council—he is not just a member of the public—on the future of Kingston Barracks, behind the back of the hon. Member concerned? Does the Prime Minister regard that as appropriate behaviour in view of the duty which Ministers, like other hon. Members, owe to each other?

The Prime Minister

Some of these cases raise very great difficulties. I recognise that, and only recently I have had to reiterate the system in operation under the previous Government about correspondence between Ministers and prospective Parliamentary candidates where these things may be involved, particularly in regard to Service Departments. The particular case to which the right hon. Member has referred and which I have studied is a very difficult one. I think it is a case in which he had not shown very much interest in the last year or two. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] If I do the right hon. Member an injustice, of course I shall withdraw, but my study of it suggests that it is one of those features. My right: hon. Friend has explained the situation to the right hon. Member. He has apologised to him if any embarrassment was caused to the right hon. Member. On another occasion, I understand, he sought out the hon. Member and gave him the first information in that particular case.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is the Prime Minister aware that I have pursued this particular issue with a number of Ministers for the Army, and the Army Department, from its files, must be very well aware of this? Quite apart from that issue, will the right hon. Gentleman address himself to the point of courtesy as between hon. Members where a public issue is involved and correspondence with a member of one's own party without at least informing the hon. Member for the constituency concerned?

The Prime Minister

As I said, I recognise the difficulty here. My right hon. Friend has not been able to trace any correspondence since 1962. If the right hon. Member has files later on than that, I will, of course, readily acknowledge his more recent interest. I recognise that there is a difficulty here in these matters, and I had to give a ruling recently—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer the question."] I am trying to answer the question. If hon. Members want to hear the answer, they will get it in a moment. There is a difficulty here, and that is one reason why I have recently given instructions again on the question of correspondence with prospective Parliamentary candidates. I think the right hon. Member will agree that it would be very difficult in every case involving councils if a copy were to have to go from the Minister to the hon. Member concerned. The Minister has acknowledged that more recently in correspondence with the right hon. Member.

Mr. Heath

The Prime Minister has recognised the difficulty of this position. Will he accept that where a member of the public is concerned the question does not arise and that when dealing with a leader of a particular party on a local council the matter is normally dealt with by officials for the Minister concerned, but that where the Minister deals with it he should let the Member of Parliament know about it?

The Prime Minister

I do not think it is right, if he is dealing with the leader of a party, particularly a minority group on the council, that it should be dealt with by an official. Most Ministers reply to letters which they get from members of the public, and in this case it seemed appropriate. I recognise that there is a difficulty here. It is difficult to know where to draw the line. I am certainly prepared to go into this further with the right hon. Gentleman, but I cannot think of any general rule that could be laid down. Certainly there are cases in my own constituency where I would find it difficult to know what the rule ought to be.