HC Deb 13 July 1976 vol 915 cc372-4
Mr. Arthur Lewis

I wish to raise another point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am sorry that I have not had an opportunity to give you notice of my intention to raise this matter, but it came to hand only a moment or two ago. We know that it is your job to protect the interests of Back Benchers and to see that hon. Members are not precluded from carrying out their duties to their constituents. Obviously, you do all you can, Sir, to facilitate hon. Members in carrying out their duties. I wish to raise a serious point which is generally applicable and which affects a number of hon. Members—

Hon. Members

Too long.

Mr. Russell Kerr

Keep going, Arthur; you are doing very well.

Mr. Lewis

I refer, Mr. Speaker, to the growing practice of all Ministers in failing to give prompt answers to correspondence from hon. Members. In that way they are depriving the taxpayer, who pays Ministers' salaries, of replies to their letters. I have tried to raise this matter with the present Prime Minister, the former Prime Minister, with Ministers concerned and also with the Leader of the House. I have been able to get no satisfaction on this point whatever.

Let me quote an example. I have a letter here that was sent by me on 11th June and today, 13th July, I received a formal acknowledgment from a private secretary saying that the matter will be considered. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] This may be a laughing matter to some hon. Members, but we have a Civil Service that is well paid, officials in the Home Office who are now going off to get £65,000 a year, and they cannot even deal with their own correspondence. I object on behalf of the taxpayers who are not receiving prompt answers to their letters. This is typical of the Home Office in particular, and, indeed, of most Departments.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman obviously feels strongly on this question and, no doubt, so will others if they are kept waiting, but it is not my responsibility. The hon. Gentleman has been allowed to express his feelings on this matter.

Mr. Lewis

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I put to you the reason why I think that it is the responsibility of the Chair? I explained, when I was being rudely interrupted by some laughing hyenas, that I believe that Mr. Speaker has the opportunity and, indeed, the duty to see that hon. Members are not precluded from doing their duty. If we have civil servants and Ministers deliberately refraining from sending letters to hon. Members, they are holding up the chance of hon. Members doing their duty. I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that if you perhaps had a word with the ministerial people concerned they might shake themselves up a bit.

Mr. Speaker

I almost said that I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman but I am not sure that I am. I would say to him that if Mr. Speaker took on himself the responsibility of chasing Departments who do not answer letters quickly he would be in dire trouble.

On the other question, may I just say that the hon. Gentleman used an expression, to which nobody took exception, when he said "laughing hyenas". I always object to the use of animal terminology when applied to hon. Members of this House and I believe that we ought to try to keep our language parliamentary.

Mr. Lewis

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of what you have said, Sir, and in deference to you and the Chair, I obviously withdraw the expression and say "the Ken Dodds opposite".