HC Deb 18 March 1971 vol 813 cc1634-5
15. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that letters from members of the public passed on to him by the Prime Minister receive prompt attention and that replies are dispatched at an early date.

Mr. Maudling

My Department seeks to reply to all letters as quickly as possible. I am aware of the particular letter which the hon. Member has in mind. I am sorry that there was delay in replying to it.

Mr. Hardy

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the letter to which I think he referred was sent to the Prime Minister on 4th October, that I did not learn until today that it had not been sent to the Home Office until November, that a reply was requested in December, and that one was not received until 10th February? Is he further aware that a matter of greater concern is the fact that the letter contained a basis of support for hare coursing and otter hunting which is, to say the least, very questionable?

Mr. Maudling

Whatever the contents of letters, we try to answer them as soon as possible. I have to apologise to the hon. Gentleman for the lapse of my Department in not having done so earlier.

Mr. Conlan

Will the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that it is not only a matter of letters from members of the public and those passed on from the Prime Minister? I wrote to him on 28th July last year and did not receive a reply until 24th December.

Mr. Maudling

I trust that the reply was satisfactory. It is fair to say that, in an average year, the Home Office receives nearly 1½ million letters.