HC Deb 23 March 1976 vol 908 cc196-7
Q1. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Prime Minister if he will make it his practice to issue a public monthly summary of the subjects about which members of the public write to him.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

No, Sir. Like my predecessor, I do not maintain a detailed statistical record of my correspondence: the cost of doing so would be disproportionate.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Prime Minister aware that but for the extortionate postal charges many people would have written to him from Scotland about the delays in the programme for transferring the staff of the Ministry of Defence and other Civil Servants to Scotland? Before he leaves No. 10 will he persuade his Ministers to fix a date for the building of these new offices, which will bring jobs to Glasgow?

The Prime Minister

As I told the hon. Member on 12th February, the Government are fully committed to the programme of dispersals announced in July 1974 and to the completion of that programme within the period that we have set ourselves. The sites for the main Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Overseas Development dispersals to the Glasgow area have now been chosen and announced. We shall continue to press ahead with all possible speed with the detailed planning of the moves, including the choice of locations for the remaining balance of the jobs.

Mr. Atkinson

Does the Prime Minister recollect the excellent work he did in preparing the report arising from the investigation that he made into the Labour Party organisation some years ago? In view of recent correspondence from those constituencies which were unable to take part in the election of a new leader for the Labour movement, will my right hon. Friend consider, when he vacates his office, making yet another inquiry into the organisation of the movement?

Mr. Speaker

That question cannot possibly come under the heading of a public monthly summary.

Mr. William Hamilton

Of course it can.

Mr. Speaker

It is no good the hon. Gentleman shouting "Of course it can". I must interpret the matter.

Mr. Atkinson

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

If the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to raise this matter at the end of Question Time we shall save time. He may complete his question to the Prime Minister.

Mr. Atkinson

Will my right hon. Friend conduct an inquiry to see whether it is possible to devise a system that will enable those disfranchised constituencies to take part in the ballot?

The Prime Minister

There is no ministerial responsibility in respect of reports for the national executive particularly those which reported 21 years ago. In any case, that report did not deal with the question posed by my hon. Friend. I hope that my hon. Friend will re-read the report. I am sure that he will find some things in it which are pertinent to the question of organisation. I have no intention of conducting another inquiry.