§ Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the growing practice of Ministers and their Parliamentary Under-Secretaries being absent from their Departments during Parliamentary Recesses, and that, due to the absence of Ministers and their Parliamentary Under-Secretaries, correspondence is being sent to Members of Parliament, on 143W behalf of Ministers, by their private secretaries; and whether he will arrange that, in future, either the Minister or the Junior Minister is available during Parliamentary Recesses to deal with the correspondence of Members of Parliament and other important matters requiring Ministerial decision.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
I am not aware of such a practice. It is generally understood that, whenever possible, Ministers will themselves sign letters to Members of Parliament on matters of importance.