§ Q7. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the increasing delays in obtaining replies from Ministers and Departments; and what action he is proposing for correcting this.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I am not aware of any evidence of increasing delays, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, I should be grateful if he would write to me, so that I can look into it.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerNow that the Prime Minister has plenty of extra time 696 in the next few weeks, will he start by consulting the Treasury and looking at the remarks of the Inland Revenue Staff Association about the overloading of that Department by recent legislation?
§ The Prime MinisterI will certainly look at this. Of course, any suggestion by hon. Members in terms of delays in obtaining replies raises the question of more staff. I thought that hon. Gentlemen opposite were against increasing the size of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerToo much legislation.