HC Deb 16 November 1971 vol 826 c87W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take action to ensure that when Members of Parliament and the general public write to his Department they are not kept waiting up to eight weeks for replies on straightforward matters.

Sir K. Joseph

My Department is conscious of the need to deal with correspondence as quickly as possible, and I am not aware of any unreasonable delays. An interim reply is sent when detailed inquiries, which may delay the final reply, are needed.