§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy for responding to the signatories of petitions; if it is his policy to respond to each of the signatories; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 20 January 1993]: My Department's usual practice is to respond to the organisers of a petition or the individual who presents it. If the organisation or person is not readily identifiable my Department writes to the first name on the petition. Responses are not sent to each of the signatories.